nces that
now make it impossible; but they are of quite recent occurrence."

"But we can't give you up, Gertrude; I won't hear of such a thing; you
must go with us in spite of circumstances."

"I fear I shall not be able," said Gertrude, smiling pleasantly, but
still retaining her firmness of expression; "you're very kind, sir, to
wish it."

"Wish it!--I tell you I insist upon it. You are under my care, child,
and I have a right to say what you shall do."

Mr. Graham was excited. Gertrude and Emily looked troubled, but neither
spoke.

"Give me your reasons, if you have any," said Mr. Graham, vehemently,
"and let me know what has put this strange notion into your head."

"I will explain it to you to-morrow, sir."

"To-morrow! I want to know now. Tell me what all this means? Here I plan
my business, and make all my arrangements, to give up this winter to
travelling--not so much on my own account as to please both of you, and,
just as all is settled, and we are on the point of starting, Gertrude
says that she has concluded not to go."

Emily undertook to explain Gertrude's motives, and ended by expressing
her approbation of her course. As soon as she had finished, Mr. Graham,
who had listened very impatiently, and interrupted her with many a
"pish!" and "pshaw!" burst forth with redoubled indignation. "So Gerty
prefers the Sullivans to us, and you seem to encourage her in it! I
should like to know what they have ever done for her, compared with what
I have done."

"They have been friends of hers for years, and now that they are in
great distress, she does not feel as if she could leave them, and I
confess I do not wonder at her decision."

"I do. She prefers to make a slave of herself in Mr. W.'s school, and a
greater slave in Mrs. Sullivan's family, instead of staying with us,
where she has been treated like a lady, and like one of our own family."

"Oh, Mr. Graham!" said Gertrude, earnestly, "it is not a matter of
choice, except as I feel it to be a duty."

"And what makes it a duty? Just because you used to live with them, and
that boy out in Calcutta has sent you home a camel's-hair scarf and a
cage full of miserable little birds, and written you letters, you must
forfeit your own interest to take care of his sick relations! Can their
claim compare with mine? Haven't I given you the best of educations, and
spared not expense for your improvement and happiness?"

"I did not think, sir," said Gertrude, hu