tarily surrender all the
intoxication of success, with its praises and flatteries. But why was
the change in her opinion so sudden? According to Macleod's own account,
Miss Gertrude White, when he first went up to London, was wholly given
over to the ambition of succeeding in her profession. She was then the
"white slave." She made no protest against the repeatedly announced
theories of her father to the effect that an artist ceased to live for
himself or herself, and became merely a medium for the expression of the
emotions of others. Perhaps the gentle cousin Janet would have had a
clearer view of the whole case if she had known that Miss Gertrude
White's awakening doubts as to the wholesomeness of simulated emotions
on the human soul were strictly coincident in point of time with her
conviction that at any moment she pleased she might call herself Lady
Macleod.

With all the art he knew he described the beautiful small courtesies and
tender ways of the little household at Rose Bank; and he made it appear
that this young lady, brought up amidst the sweet observances of the
South, was making an enormous sacrifice in offering to brave, for his
sake, the transference to the harder and harsher ways of the North.

"And, you know, Keith, she speaks a good deal for her self," Janet
Macleod said, turning over the photographs and looking at them perhaps a
little wistfully. "It is a pretty face. It must make many friends for
her. If she were here herself now, I don't think auntie would hold out
for a moment."

"That is what I know," said he, eagerly. "That is why I am anxious she
should come here. And if it were only possible to bring her now, there
would be no more trouble; and I think we could get her to leave the
stage--at least I would try. But how could we ask her to Dare in the
winter time? The sea and the rain would frighten her, and she would
never consent to live here. And perhaps she needs time to quite make up
her mind. She said she would educate herself all the winter through, and
that, when I saw her again, she would be a thorough Highland woman. That
shows you how willing she is to make any sacrifice if she thinks it
right."

"But if she is convinced," said Janet, doubtfully, "that she ought to
leave the stage, why does she not do so at once? You say her father has
enough money to support the family?"

"Oh yes, he has," said Macleod; and then he added, with some hesitation,
"well, Janet, I did not like to pr