leased too," smiled her aunt. "I presume he has his
letter already. Bee, you will tire yourself if you keep capering about
so. You don't remember your father at all, do you?"

"Yes;" answered Bee with passionate intentness. "Of course, I know him
from his letters, and then I remember how he used to carry me. His eyes
are dark, but he doesn't look a bit like me. I know that he is handsome,
and distinguished, and oh, I'd know him anywhere!"

"Well, he is all that, but you must have heard us speak of it. You were
but five when he left, and could not possibly remember all those things.
We must go over to the Grove tomorrow, I think, to see what is to be
done. Henry can come when court adjourns. There won't be any too much
time to get everything in readiness. The house has been closed for so
long that there will be a great deal to do. Servants must be hired for
both house and grounds."

"I don't want any servants, auntie," protested her niece. "I want to
keep house for father myself. You know that he wanted me to learn, and I
want him to see how well I can do it."

"That is all very well, Beatrice, but you must have a strong capable
woman to help you," said Mrs. Raymond decidedly. "William Raymond is a
fastidious man, and there must be an experienced cook in the kitchen."

"How much you know about him," murmured Bee half enviously. "Tell me
everything you can, auntie."

"Come into the house then. We will have lunch, and devote the whole
afternoon to William. We could have no more delightful subject,"
declared the lady, willing for once to indulge Bee's insatiable desire
to hear all she could about her father. "I am quite sure that it will be
but a repetition of what I have already told you many times, but you
will listen with new interest today."

Chapter IV

A Jest Becomes Earnest

"To mourn a mischief that is past and gone,
Is the next way to draw new mischief on."

--_Othello. Shakespeare._

"Dear, dear! will evening never come!" exclaimed Beatrice, pushing back
her hair impatiently and looking at the clock in the hall for the third
time in five minutes.

"Don't you know that the days are longer in June, Bee?" asked Adele in
mock surprise.

"Isn't there anything that you can do, Beatrice?" Mrs. Raymond glanced
up from her embroidery. "Occupation of some sort is the best remedy for
restlessness."

"Everything is done, auntie. I've even set the table for dinner, and
it's only five o'cl