ning it, and said, "Remember, you
are her guardian,--your word is law." And they entered.

Stocmar was certainly not prepared for the appearance of the young girl
who now rose to receive him with all the practised ease of the world.
She was taller, older-looking, and far handsomer than he expected, and,
as Mrs. Morris said, "Your guardian, Clara," she courtesied deeply, and
accepted his salutation at once with deference and reserve.

"I am in the most painful of all positions," began he, with a courteous
smile. "My first step in your acquaintance is as the ungracious herald
of a separation from all you love."

"I have been prepared, sir, for your intentions regarding me," said she,
coldly.

[Illustration: 404]

"Yes, Mr. Stocmar," broke in Mrs. Morris, quickly, "though Clara is
very young, she is thoroughly aware of our circumstances; she knows the
narrowness of our fortune, and the necessity we are under of effort for
our future support. Her own pride and her feeling for me are sufficient
reasons for keeping such matters secret. She is not ignorant of the
world, little as she has seen of it, and she comprehends that our
acceptance with our friends is mainly dependent on our ability to
dispense with their assistance."

"Am I to be a governess, sir?" asked Clara, with a calm which the
deathlike paleness of her face showed to have cost her dearly.

"A governess! a governess!" repeated he, looking at Mrs. Morris for his
cue, for the suddenness of the question had routed all his preparations.
"I think not,--I should hope not; indeed, I am enabled to say, there is
no thought of that."

"If so," continued Clara, in the same calm tone, "I should like to be
with very young children. I am not afraid of being thought menial."

"Clara," broke in Mrs. Morris, harshly, "Mr. Stocmar has already assured
you that he does not contemplate this necessity." She looked towards
him as she spoke, and he at once saw it was his duty to come up to
the rescue, and this he did with one of those efforts all his own.
He launched forth boldly into generalities about education and its
advantages; how, with the development of the mind and the extension of
the resources, came new fields of exercise, fresh realms of conquest.
"None of us, my dear young lady," cried he, "not the worldliest nor the
wisest of us, can ever tell when a particular acquirement will be the
key-stone of our future fortune." He illustrated his theory with copious
instan