ess, preferred to seek a permanent boarding-place, and when the
grounds on which she based her decision were understood by her friends,
they approved her course.

Mrs. Jeremy at first felt hurt at Gertrude's refusal to live with them
for any length of time that she chose; and the doctor was so peremptory
with his "Come, Gertrude, come right home with us--don't say a word!"
that she was afraid lest, in her weak state of health, she should be
carried off, without a _chance_ to remonstrate. But, after he had taken
upon himself to give Jane orders about packing her clothes and sending
them after her, and then locking up the house, he gave Gertrude an
opportunity to state her reasons for wishing to decline the generous
proposal.

But all her reasoning upon general principles proved insufficient to
convince the warm-hearted couple. "It was all nonsense about independent
position. She would be perfectly independent with them, and her company
would be such a pleasure that she need feel no hesitation in accepting
their offer, and might be sure she would be conferring a favour, instead
of being the party obliged." At last she was compelled to make use of an
argument which had greatly influenced her own mind, and would, she felt
sure, carry no little weight with it in the doctor's own estimation.

"Dr. Jeremy," said she, "I hope you will not condemn in me a motive
which has strengthened my firmness in this matter. I should be unwilling
to mention it if I did not know that you are so far acquainted with the
state of affairs between Mr. Graham and myself as to understand and
sympathize with my feelings. You know that he was opposed to my leaving
them and remaining here this winter, and must suspect that, when we
parted, there was not a perfectly good understanding between us. He
hinted that I should never be able to support myself, and should be
driven to a life of dependence; and, since the salary which I receive
from Mr. W. is sufficient for all my wants, I wish to be so situated on
Mr. Graham's return that he will perceive that my assurance that I could
earn my own living was not without foundation."

"So Graham thought that, without his sustaining power, you would soon
come to beggary--did he? With your talents, too? that's just like him!"

"Oh, no, no!" replied Gertrude, "I did not say that; but I seemed to him
a mere child, and he did not realise that in giving me an education he
had paid my expenses in advance. It was ver