suspicion. He looked hard at Maria's
soft puff of hair, and reflected that it might be a wig; that anyway
he was not so much in love as he had thought, with a girl who could
look as Maria had done the day before.

When Maria reached the academy, the teachers greeted her with
enthusiasm. One who was given to exuberance fairly embraced her.

"Now you are my own beautiful Miss Edgham again," said she.

Wollaston, during the opening exercises, only glanced once at her,
then he saw no difference. But he did look at Evelyn, and when she
turned her lovely face away before his gaze and a soft blush rose
over her round cheeks he felt his pulses quicken. But he did not
speak a word to Maria or Evelyn all day.

When Evelyn went home that night she was very sober. She would not
eat her supper, and Maria was sure that she heard her sobbing in the
night. The next morning the child looked pale and wan, and Aunt Maria
asked harshly if she were sick. Evelyn replied no quickly. When she
and Maria were outside waiting for the trolley, Evelyn said, half
catching her breath with a sob even then:

"Mr. Lee didn't speak a word to me all day yesterday. I know he did
not like it because we didn't go to lunch with him."

"Nonsense, dear," said Maria. Then she added, with an odd, secretive
meaning in her voice: "Don't worry, precious."

"I can't help it," said Evelyn.

When the term was about half finished it became evident to Maria that
she and Evelyn must call upon Mrs. Lee, Wollaston's mother. She had
put it off as long as she could, although all the other teachers had
called, and Aunt Maria had kept urging her to do so.

"She is going to think it is awful funny if you don't call," she
said, "when you used to live in the same place, too."

In reality, Aunt Maria, now that George Ramsey had married, was
thinking that Wollaston might be a good match for Maria, and she
wished to prevent her marriage with Professor Lane should he return
from Colorado cured.

At last Maria felt that she was fairly obliged to go, and one
Saturday afternoon she and Evelyn went to Westbridge for the purpose.
Wollaston and his mother lived in an exceedingly pretty house. Mrs.
Lee had artistic taste, and the rooms were unusual though simple.
Maria looking about, felt a sort of homesick longing. She realized
how perfectly a home like this would have suited her. As for Evelyn,
she looked about with quick, bright glances, and she treated Mrs. Lee
as if she w