e, and be glad for
her, but if it is not, I shall take her away at once. No one need worry
about mother! I shall care for her."

"Bravo!" Mrs. Biggs rejoined, as Eloise sank back in her chair. "That's
what I call pluck! Law, indeed! It makes me so mad! You can fetch her to
my house any minit. Your old room is ready for you, and I won't charge a
cent till you find something to do and can pay. Maybe Ruby'll give up
the school. Won't you, Ruby Ann?"

"Certainly, if she wishes it," Ruby answered, and going over to Eloise,
she said, "You are a brave little girl, and the money is still waiting
for you if you want it."

As for Jack, he was ready to lay himself at her feet, but all he could
do then was to say to Ruby, "Perhaps Miss Smith had better go to her
room; she seems tired," and taking her arm, he went with her to the
door, which Howard opened for her. That young man did not feel very
comfortable, and as soon as Eloise was gone he said to the inmates of
the room, "If any of you think me such a cad as to turn Mrs. Amy and her
daughter from the house, or to allow them to go, you are mistaken. If it
should prove that I am master here, they will share with me. I can do no
more."

"Good for you!" Jack said, wringing Howard's hand, while the party began
to break up, as it was time for those who lived at a distance to take
the train.

Among those who arose to go was the Rev. Arthur Mason, whom Howard had
asked to lunch after the burial. As he left the house he said to Jack,
who stood for a moment with him on the piazza, "Please say to Miss Smith
that I can direct her to her mother's birthplace in Florida. My father
is preaching there."

"Thanks! I will tell her," Jack replied, in some surprise, and then went
in to where Howard was standing, with an expression on his face not
quite such as one ought to have when he has just come into possession of
a fortune.

"I congratulate you, old boy," Jack said cheerily, as he went up to him.

"Don't!" Howard answered impetuously. "Nothing is sure. A will may be
found, or my uncle's marriage proved; in either case, I sink back into
the cipher I was before. I cannot say I'm not glad to have money, but I
don't want people blaming me. I can't help it if my uncle made no will
and did not marry Amy's mother, and I don't believe he did, or why was
he silent so many years?"

Jack could not answer him and left the room, taking his way, he hardly
knew why, to the village, where he fell i