let it drop. You can always have a home with me; but
there will be nothing to spare for lawyers' expenses. Give me a bird in
the hand, as I said to your father the last time he was home.

"If the worst comes to the worst, you can give some music lessons in the
neighbourhood. Mrs Burton was telling me on Monday that her little boy
has quite a taste--picks out all the barrel-organ tunes on the piano
with one finger. You might get him as a beginning."

"Yes," assented Sylvia faintly; and to herself she cried, "Oh, Jack
dear--how good of you to love me! How good of you to give me something
to live for! How dreadful, dreadful, dreadful I should be feeling now
if you had not met me, and made the whole world different!"

Miss Munns was watching her anxiously, fearing a burst of tears, and was
greatly relieved when she turned round and showed a composed and even
smiling face. "I'll find some work if it is necessary, auntie; and I'll
try to help you too. You have been very good to me, and I'm afraid I
have been rather horrid sometimes. I thought of it when I was away, and
determined to make a fresh start if you would forgive me this time. We
are the only two left, and we ought to love each other."

"I am sure I am very much attached to you, my dear. I was saying so to
Miss O'Shaughnessy only to-day. I don't deny that your manner is rather
sharp at times, but there's nothing like trouble for taming the spirits.
I shouldn't wonder if we got along much more happily after this. Miss
Bridgie brought a little parcel for you--I mustn't forget that. It is
on that little table. She told me to give it to you at once."

"What can it be, I wonder?--something I left over there by mistake, I
suppose," Sylvia said listlessly, as she unfolded the paper; but her
expression altered the next moment as she beheld a flat leather case,
inside which reposed a miniature painting of the same face which used to
smile upon her from her own chimney-piece.

Surprise held her speechless, while a quick rush of tears testified more
eloquently than words to the faithfulness of the portrait. The painting
was exquisitely fine and soft, the setting the perfection of good taste
in its handsome severity. It seemed at the moment just the greatest
treasure which the world could offer. Who could have sent it?

Sylvia reluctantly handed the case for Miss Munns's curious scrutiny,
the while she opened the note which had fallen from the paper.
Bri