This last escapade has
decided me. Your chance is over."

"What chance?" asked Iris, who had not altogether grasped her meaning.

"Your chance of living here at Paradise Court, and of being rich,
instead of going back to Albert Street, where you will always be
miserably poor, and have to work for your living."

"Oh, but anyhow," said Iris, now quite roused, "I couldn't possibly do
that. I mean, I couldn't _live_ here even if you liked me."

"Why not?"

"Why, of _course_ I couldn't. How could I possibly leave father and
mother and the others? _They_ wouldn't like it either."

"You like Albert Street better than this, I suppose," said Mrs
Fotheringham coldly.

"Oh, _dear_, yes--much. As long as the others are there."

"You won't like it best always," said Mrs Fotheringham. "There will
come a time when you'll remember that you've missed a chance. Why, you
foolish child," she continued, speaking more earnestly and with a tone
of half pity, "you don't know what money can do. It can do everything.
If you are cold it can warm you, if you are dull it can amuse you, if
you are hungry it can feed you, if you are insignificant it can make you
a power in the world. It can bring people to your feet, and make them
serve you."

"But not love you," said Iris quickly.

"Pooh!" said Mrs Fotheringham.

She hardly spoke again for the rest of the evening, but remained deep in
thought, from which Iris did not dare to rouse her by any question. The
next day had been arranged for her return home, and when everything was
ready, and the carriage waiting at the door to take her to the station,
she went to say farewell to her godmother and Paradise Court. She found
her sitting in the verandah, with the parrot on a stand close by, and
there was such a lonely look about her that for a moment Iris felt
sorry.

"Good-bye, godmother," she said gently.

"Ah, you're going," said Mrs Fotheringham, holding out a hard white
hand; then looking at her sharply:

"Are you glad to go?"

"I've enjoyed myself _very_ much," said Iris politely.

"But you like Albert Street better?"

"Well, you see, the others are all there." She could not help smiling a
little as she thought how the "others" would all be at the station to
meet her, and how they would laugh, and talk, and wave things, and kiss
her, and how much she would have to tell them.

"I'll give you a proverb to take back with you," said Mrs Fotheringham
after a moment's pau