ng at Mrs. Wentworth's--Cousin Norman's," she continued, with
a little change of expression and the least little lift of her head.

Keith's expression, perhaps, changed slightly, too, for she added
quietly: "Cousin Louise had to have some one with her, and I am teaching
the children. I am the governess."

"I have always said that children nowadays have all the best things,"
said Keith, desirous to get off delicate ground. "You know, some one has
said he never ate a ripe peach in his life: when he was a boy the
grown-ups had them, and since he grew up the children have them all."

She laughed.

"I am very severe, I assure you."

"You look it. I should think you might be Herod himself."

She smiled, and then the smile died out, and she glanced around her.

"I owe you an apology," she said in a lowered voice.

"For what?"

"For--mis--for not answering your letters. But I mis--I don't know how
to say what I wish. Won't you accept it without an explanation?" She
held out her hand and gave him the least little flitting glance
of appeal.

"I will," said Keith. "With all my heart."

"Thank you. I have been very unhappy about it." She breathed a little
sigh of relief, which Keith caught.

Mrs. Lancaster did not arrive until all the other guests had been there
a little while. But when she entered she had never looked handsomer. As
soon as she had greeted her hostess, her eyes swept around the room, and
in their circuit rested for a moment on Keith, who was talking to Lois.
She gave them a charming smile. The next moment, however, her eyes stole
that way again, and this time they bore a graver expression. The
admiration that filled the younger girl's eyes was unbounded and
unfeigned.

"Don't you think she is the handsomest woman in the room?" she asked,
with a nod toward Mrs. Lancaster.

Keith was suddenly conscious that he did not wish to commit himself to
such praise. She was certainly very handsome, he admitted, but there
were others who would pass muster, too, in a beauty show.

"Oh, but I know you must think so; every one says you do," Lois urged,
with a swift glance up at him, which, somehow, Keith would have liked
to avoid.

"Then, I suppose it must be so; for every one knows my innermost
thoughts. But I think she was more beautiful when she was younger. I do
not know what it is; but there is something in Society that, after a few
years, takes away the bloom of ingenuousness and puts in its place just
t