Floyd's friend, but you see you were so young, such a child, and I was
a sort of grandmother, and you had been in so little society----"

Gertrude breaks down in a nervous tremble, then she laughs
hysterically.

"I didn't want you to think _I_ was running after _him_," she cries,
deprecatingly. "I only came for company, and all that, and he has taken
a fancy to have me, to marry me, though what he wants me for I can't
see. I did not suppose I ever should marry. I didn't really care, until
Laura began to flaunt her husband in every one's face, and now I shall
be so glad to surprise her. What a stir it will make; Marcia will turn
fairly green with envy."

Violet begins to be confused. Can any one allow all these emotions with
love?

"And you are not a bit glad," says Gertrude, touched at her silence.

"Oh, I am more than glad!" and Violet clasps her arms about Gertrude's
neck and kisses her tenderly. Gertrude draws her down on her lap and
holds her like a baby.

"Oh, you sweet little precious!" she exclaims. "I don't know how any
one could help loving you! The professor thinks you are an angel. But
you know _I_ should look silly going into transports over a middle-aged
man, getting bald on the forehead. I am too tall, too old; but he
insists that I will grow younger every year. And I shall try to get
back a little of my old beauty. I have not cared, you know, there was
nothing to care for, but when you have some one to notice whether your
cheeks are pale or pink, and who will want you to be prettily
attired--oh, I _am_ growing idiotic, after all!"

"So that you are happy, very happy----"

"My dear, I substitute comfort for happiness; one is much more likely
to at thirty. But you will not believe me when you hear all. He wants
to be married early in January, and take me with him to the Pacific
coast and to Mexico. I told him I would have to be carried in a
palanquin or on a stretcher, but it would be lovely for a wedding
tour!"

"Oh, yes! And you will get stronger and care more for everything; and
he will be so pleased to see you take an interest in his pursuits. You
must read German and French with him, and make diagrams and columns and
jugs and all manner of queer things. You will love to _live_ once more,
Gertrude, I know you will."

Gertrude sighs happily, yet a little overwhelmed.

"Mamma! mamma!" calls a sweet, rather upbraiding voice, "it is just
half an hour."

"Let her come down; we can go on wit