think Mr. Crayshaw in his vexation had almost forgotten that he was
not talking to himself, but he was suddenly reminded, for at this
moment Angel stood up, looking very pale, but with a strange light
burning in her eyes.

'Cousin Crayshaw,' she said, and there was a new ring in her quiet
tones, 'you said a minute ago that it is time Betty and I were growing
up. I think you must have forgotten that, and must think us either
very childish or very heartless, or you would not speak as you have
just done before us. Godfrey's father was our brother and he is dead,
and whatever he has done that is wrong, I think no friend of ours
should speak of it before us. And if you really mean that it is a
misfortune for us that our brother's little boy is not dead, I hope you
will never say such a thing again to us, or to any one. If his mother
had lived we should have loved her dearly, and welcomed her for our
sister, and now that we have only him left it will be the most sacred
work of our lives to care for him, and teach him, and work for him too
if he is poor.'

Angelica had never made such a speech in her life, certainly she had
never dreamt of making it to Mr. Crayshaw, whom she had always looked
upon with the greatest respect as a grown-up man, and her guardian.
Betty felt as if she hardly knew her sister, but never in her life had
she felt so proud of her. She stood up by Angel's side and put her arm
through hers, and faced Mr. Crayshaw as if she were longing to fight
Godfrey's battles directly.

'I won't touch one penny of his money,' she said, with her hair thrown
back and her cheeks glowing, 'and I'd scrub and sweep for him gladly,
that I would.'

Mr. Crayshaw got up and gave his chair an impatient push back.

'Don't let us have heroics, Elizabeth,' he said sharply. Then he
glanced at Angel, walked over to the window and came back again.

'Angelica,' he began, 'I'--and there he hesitated. It was on the tip
of his tongue to say, 'I am sorry I said what I did; I beg your
pardon.' What a pity it was he didn't go on! If he had, Angel and
Betty would have respected him more than they ever did before; but then
we are apt to forget that people would really think more of us if they
knew we were not ashamed to own ourselves in the wrong. But he did not
finish his sentence, he went on after a minute:

'All I mean you to understand is the necessity for economy for you all
if this child is to be put to school and starte