dage not to hover still around her prison-house and above the
sleeping cherub she left so lately!

Such resolutions, however carried out, react on the character that
conceives them. I felt from that time strengthened, uplifted, calmed, as
I had never felt before. I learned the precious secret of patience in
watching over that baby head, and for its sake grew forbearing to all
around; toward Evelyn, even, whose taunts were so hard to bear, so
unendurable on occasions.

"There is a great change in Miriam," she said one day to Norman
Stanbury. "I believe she is getting religion, or perhaps she and George
Gaston are training themselves to go forth as married missionaries,
after a while, to the heathen. They are studying parental responsibility
already, one at the head and the other at the foot of the baby's
cradle-carriage, but I am afraid it will be but a _lame_ concern, after
all."

We both heard this cruel speech and the laugh that succeeded it, in
passing by, as it was intended we should do, probably--heard it in
silence, and perhaps it may be said in dignity, not even a remark being
interchanged between us concerning it; but I saw George Gaston flush to
the roots of his hair.

A few minutes later we were ourselves laughing merrily over the baby's
ineffectual efforts to catch a bunch of scarlet roses which George
dangled above her head, and, altogether forgetful of Evelyn's sneer,
bumped our heads together in trying to kiss her.

In truth, my superb sense of womanhood lifted me quite above all
frivolous suggestions; thenceforth George seemed to me physically almost
as much of a baby as Mabel, and was nearly as dependent on my aid. In
his sudden fits of exhaustion and agony of such uncertain recurrence as
to render it dangerous for him to venture forth alone, he always turned
with confidence to my supporting and guiding hand.

I taught him his lessons in the intervals of my own studies, which he
recited when he could to a private teacher, the same who gave me
lessons.

Evelyn preferred a public school, and was sent, at her own request, to
a fashionable establishment in the city attended by the _elite_ alone,
as the enormous prices charged for tuition indicated, as a day-boarder.
There she became proficient in mere mechanical music--her ear being a
poor one naturally--and learned to speak two languages, dance to
perfection, and conduct herself like a high-bred woman of fashion on all
occasions and in all emergenc