ur had passed thus before she remembered the silent little
figure behind her, and then it was with a swift sense of compunction that
she took her hands from the keys and turned.

"Toby dear, how boring this must be for you! Are you asleep? Why, child,
what is it?"

With a start she saw that Toby's fair head was bowed upon her arms in an
attitude of the most hopeless, the most bitter, despair.

She made a convulsive movement at the sound of Maud's voice, and in a
moment lifted a white, strained face. "I am just a little tired, that's
all," she said in a voice that quivered in spite of her. "Please go on
playing! I like it."

Maud got up with quiet decision and went to her, but Toby was on her feet
before she reached her. She stood with that look of a small, frightened
animal so characteristic of her, her two hands nervously locked together.

Maud took her gently by the arm. "Shall we sit down and talk?" she said.

Toby yielded as it were involuntarily to the quiet touch. In her plain
white blouse with the sailor collar she looked a mere child--a piteous,
shy child.

Maud drew her down upon the sofa. All the mother in her went out to the
forlorn little creature, yet for the moment she hesitated, as one afraid
to strike a wrong note.

Toby was trembling a little and that fact decided her. She put a
comforting arm about her.

"Do you know I am wondering how to make you happy?" she said.

Toby choked back a sob. "You are very kind, and I am stupid--stupid. I
will try to be happy. I will really."

Maud began to draw her gently nearer, but Toby surprised her by a sudden
passionate movement and slipped down on to the floor, hiding her face
against her.

"I'm not fit--to speak to you!" she said in a vehement, strangled
whisper. "I'm so bad--so bad. And I do--so--want to be good."

"My dear, dear child!" Maud said very tenderly.

Toby fought with herself for a space, her thin arms tightly clasping
Maud's knees. At last, forcing back her distress she lifted her head.

"I'm so dreadfully sorry. Don't let it upset you! Don't--tell Jake!"

"You are quite safe with me, dear," Maud assured her. "But can't I help
you?"

She knew even as she asked the question that Toby was not prepared to
give her full confidence, and her own reserve shrank from asking for it.

Toby looked up at her with quivering lips. "Oh, you are good!" she said.
"I want to be good--like you. But--I don't feel as if I ever shall be."

Maud laid