her
or for any relation by law. She preferred that he should be wholly
unconnected with her--just her friend unrelated: that was all.

"Thank you, dear Leam!" said Josephine gratefully; and Leam, looking
at her with large mournful eyes, said in a soft but surprised tone of
voice, "Thank me!--why?"

"That you accept me as your stepmother so sweetly, and do not hate me
for it," said Josephine.

Leam glanced with a pained look at Fina. "I have done with hate," she
answered. "It is not my business what papa likes to do."

"Sensible at last!" cried Mr. Dundas with a half-mocking, half-kindly
triumph in his voice.

Leam turned pale. "But you must not think that _I_ forget mamma as you
do," she said with emphasis, her lip quivering.

"No, dear Leam, I would be the last to wish that you should forget
your own mamma for me," said Josephine humbly. "Only try to love me
a little for myself, as your friend, and I will be satisfied. Love
always your own mamma, but me too a little."

"You are good," said Leam softly, her eyes filling with tears. "I do
like you very much; but mamma--there is only one mother for me. None
of papa's wives could ever be mamma to me."

"But friend?" said Josephine, half sobbing.

"Friend? yes," returned Leam; and for the first time in her life she
bent her proud little head and kissed Josephine on her cheek. "And I
will be good to you," she said quietly, "for you are good." She did
not add, "And Edgar's sister."

The families approved of this marriage. Every one said it was what
ought to have been when Pepita died, and that Mr. Dundas had missed
his way and lost his time by taking that doubtful madame meanwhile.
Adelaide and her mother were especially congratulatory; but, though
the rector said he was glad for the sake of poor Josephine, who had
always been a favorite of his, yet he could not find terms of too
great severity for Sebastian. For a man to marry three times--it was
scarcely moral; and he wondered at the Harrowbys for allowing one of
their own to be the third venture. And then, though Josephine was a
good girl enough, she was but a weak sister at the best; and to
think of any man in his senses taking her as the successor of that
delightful and superior madame!

Mrs. Birkett dissented from these views, and said it would keep the
house together and be such a nice thing for Fina and Leam: both
would be the better for a woman's influence and superintendence, and
Josephine was very go