er. The prejudice of years
is not easily swept away from the mind of an aged woman, whatever her
strength of character may be. This girl was the step-daughter of the
governess she had so long detested, and she seemed to bring the
atmosphere of a hated place with her. Perhaps she had expected a more
stately bearing in her daughter's child.

A chair had been drawn up to the couch by the thoughtful Judson, and the
countess made a gentle motion that her grand-daughter should occupy it.

Clara sat down, feeling nervous and very miserable; for those eyes
followed her with mournful curiosity, which the high-spirited girl
mistook for criticism.

"I dare say that I am not so handsome or so good as my poor mother was,
but she loved me dearly, everybody says that, and for her sake you might
be glad I am here, grandmother, especially as you sent for me."

As Clara said this, tears swelled from those blue eyes that had been
slowly filling, and dropped to her cheeks like rain upon damask roses.
This appeal, so childlike in its passion, lifted the old countess out of
her seeming apathy. She arose, laid her hands on that young head and
kissed the flushed forehead.

The moment Clara felt the touch of those tender lips, she threw both
arms around the shadowy old woman, and broke forth.

"Oh, grandmother, grandmother, don't stop to think about it, but let me
love you! I want to so much, for without that I shall be awfully
homesick."

The old lady's heart beat as it had not done for years. Never, since her
only child went forth from those proud walls a bride, had any one dared
to claim her love, or speak to her as one free soul speaks to another.
In the haughty isolation of her rank, she had almost forgotten that
equality could ever be claimed of her. The very audacity of this cry for
affection stirred the old lady's pride like a trumpet.

"There speaks the Carset blood," she said, appealing to the grim
hand-maiden who stood by; "always ready to give and bold to claim just
rights. My grandchild is of the true stock, you see. God bless her and
love her as I will!"

"There, now, that is very kind of you, grandmamma, and you are just the
dearest, sweetest and queenliest lady that ever made a poor girl happy,
when she was, in fact, homesick as death. The truth is, mamma Rachael
spoils me so completely with her great love, and--but, oh! I forgot you
can't bear mamma Rachael. Dear me! I am always getting into scrapes.
Does that belong