man's control.

Elsie thought that many a dear little fellow was half-brutalised because
he had lacked a woman's influence.

Mrs. Beaton then felt that it was her turn to make a remark, but no one
ever heard the words of wisdom which were about to issue from her lips.
Quite suddenly, with unusual noise, the parlour door was flung open, and
a woman rushed into the room.

Andrew started to his feet. Elsie, who had just taken up the teapot, set
it down again upon the table. Mrs. Beaton pushed back her cap-ribbons
with both hands, and uttered a little shriek.

"It's Mrs. Penn!" she cried. "Oh, Mrs. Penn, it is you, isn't it? And
you're gone clean out of your mind, aren't you? Oh, dear! oh, dear!"

"Yes," answered the intruder distractedly, "it is me. And I'm gone clean
out of my mind."

"We don't want you without your mind," said Andrew, grown suddenly
discourteous. "If you are mad you ought not to have come. Don't you see
that you have given my mother a terrible shock?"

"Don't be unkind, Mr. Beaton!" exclaimed Elsie, in a tone of reproof.
"Of course Mrs. Penn has come to bring us some news. Oh, Mrs. Penn," she
added, losing dignity and self-control all at once, "do speak one word
and tell us what has become of Jamie!"

For a moment it seemed as if Mrs. Penn had no power to comply with this
simple request. She stood gaping at them all; then, suddenly flinging up
her hands with a despairing gesture, she panted out, "Lost!"

Mrs. Beaton sank back in her chair with eyes closed. Andrew bent over
his mother, holding a smelling-bottle to her nostrils, and murmuring
reassuring words. Elsie was very pale.

The old lady recovered herself, sat up, and said, rather feebly, that
there was nothing the matter. Andrew, somewhat relieved, darted an angry
glance at Mrs. Penn.

"Pray sit down, Mrs. Penn," he said, "and let me beg you to be composed.
Perhaps a cup of tea may steady your nerves."

Elsie poured out the tea at once, and handed it kindly to the poor
shaken woman, whose distress was very genuine.

"The _Daily Telegraph_ told me to come here. That's why I came," she
whimpered at last. "But no one seems glad to see me," she added
tearfully.

Andrew felt a pang of self-reproach.

"We are very glad," he said promptly. "If I was rude I hope you will
pardon me. But mother can't stand a shock, and you came upon us rather
suddenly, you see."

"I'm so unhappy," poor Mrs. Penn replied. "I daresay I don't seem a bit
l