ture of real life."

"I mean the acting," said Rose, annoyed.

"The bridge scene was well acted, especially the woman's part. I
thought the man overdid the sentiment a little."

"Did you? I enjoyed that. And wasn't the scene between the two
cousins funny when they first learned they were related? But the
slum scene was horrible. I think they ought not to show such things
in a play. They are too painful."

"They must be painful in real life, too," replied Felicia.

"Yes, but we don't have to look at the real thing. It's bad enough
at the theatre where we pay for it."

Rose went into the dining-room and began to eat from a plate of
fruit and cakes on the sideboard.

"Are you going up to see mother?" asked Felicia after a while. She
had remained in front of the drawing-room fireplace.

"No," replied Rose from the other room. "I won't trouble her
tonight. If you go in tell her I am too tired to be agreeable."

So Felicia turned into her mother's room, as she went up the great
staircase and down the upper hall. The light was burning there, and
the servant who always waited on Mrs. Sterling was beckoning Felicia
to come in.

"Tell Clara to go out," exclaimed Mrs. Sterling as Felicia came up
to the bed.

Felicia was surprised, but she did as her mother bade her, and then
inquired how she was feeling.

"Felicia," said her mother, "can you pray?"

The question was so unlike any her mother had ever asked before that
she was startled. But she answered: "Why, yes, mother. Why do you
ask such a question?"

"Felicia, I am frightened. Your father--I have had such strange
fears about him all day. Something is wrong with him. I want you to
pray--."

"Now, here, mother?"

"Yes. Pray, Felicia."

Felicia reached out her hand and took her mother's. It was
trembling. Mrs. Sterling had never shown such tenderness for her
younger daughter, and her strange demand now was the first real sign
of any confidence in Felicia's character.

The girl kneeled, still holding her mother's trembling hand, and
prayed. It is doubtful if she had ever prayed aloud before. She must
have said in her prayer the words that her mother needed, for when
it was silent in the room the invalid was weeping softly and her
nervous tension was over.

Felicia stayed some time. When she was assured that her mother would
not need her any longer she rose to go.

"Good night, mother. You must let Clara call me if you feel badly in
the night."

"I fe