stories if you will."

"How can I, dear, when I am and it is?" replied the governess, slowly.
"I am no princess in disguise, I assure you. I am simply a very
prosaic little woman and your devoted friend. I don't think I could
possibly discover anything at all resembling a fairy-tale in my life.
But some time, perhaps, when you are older, and when--I mean, if we
meet again, I will tell you all there is to tell about myself--that is,
if you care to listen. It will not be exciting--but you might care to
know it."

"Oh, I would, I would!" the girl exclaimed heartily. "But I hate to
have you talk of 'if we meet again.' Why, we must, Miss Blake. Don't
you know I couldn't live and know I wasn't to see you any more? It's
like the most awful thing that could happen to have you go way at all,
and the only way I can bear it is thinking of how we'll see each other
often and often. Why, my father will be so thankful to you for taking
such care of me! I guess he won't know what to do. And when you see
him and find how good he is, you won't be afraid a bit. You'll just as
lief stay here as not. He's the best, the dearest--oh, you couldn't
help but like my father."

A soft hand patted her head in loving appreciation, but not one word
said the governess, and the two sat together in silence for some time
thinking rather sober thoughts, until the sound of the door-bell broke
in upon the stillness and brought Nan to her feet and sent her flying
to the balusters to peep over and discover who the late caller might be.

"It's Mr. Turner, and he asked for you," she said, coming back into the
room and bending to gather up the scattered news sheets that strewed
the floor. "He looked as solemn as an owl, and he asked for you in a
voice that made me feel ever so queer--it was so trembly."

"He may be cold," suggested Miss Blake.

She rose and settled the pillows upon the divan. She would have to
receive her guest up here. She was not yet permitted to venture below.
She and Nan stood ready to receive him as he entered the room, and
after the first greetings the girl was about to sit down beside her
friend when the lawyer said abruptly:

"My dear, I must ask you to permit me to talk to Miss Blake alone
to-day. I have some private business to transact with her. You will
pardon me for asking you to leave us."

Nan rose immediately with a smile of good-natured understanding, but as
she turned to leave the room she saw that the