ictures. She knew without asking that Bee would not.

"I don't want you here," replied Bee angrily. "You want to stay because
father admires you, but you shan't do it. I want him to myself, and I've
a right to have him. He's my father!"

"Please, Bee," coaxed Adele. Bee always gave in to her pleadings, and
she could not believe that she would not do so now.

"I am going to my room," announced Beatrice, rising. "And I don't want
to be followed there."

She walked abruptly away, leaving Adele weeping softly.

Chapter V

Protective Mimicry

"Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt,
Nothing's so hard but search will find it out."

--_Herrick._

The next day Mr. and Mrs. Henry Raymond with Adele went home. For the
first time in their lives the girls took leave of each other with
coldness. The older people affected not to notice the lack of warmth in
their adieus, believing that time and absence would heal the breach
between them. Before their departure Mrs. Raymond had called her niece
to her for a little talk.

"Bee, dear," she said, "you don't know how sorry I am for what has
occurred. It was a most unfortunate mistake, but you must put all
thought of it out of your mind. Be your own bright self again."

"I want to be pretty, Aunt Annie," burst from Bee, whose eyes were
swollen and red from much weeping.

"That is nonsense, Beatrice," spoke her aunt sharply. "You cannot change
your looks. 'What can't be cured must be endured.' Your personal
appearance heretofore has caused you no concern, and there is no reason
that it should begin to trouble you now. Beauty is not everything.
Sometimes the plainest countenance becomes charming when stirred by the
emotions of a noble heart."

"Yes; I know," said Beatrice dully. "I know all that. I've heard it ever
since I can remember. My father would say the same thing, I dare say,
yet his eyes follow Adele constantly, and he scarcely looks at me.
People are always preaching how little beauty matters, and then they
turn round and show that it makes all the difference in the world. Take
Adele and me, Aunt Annie. Haven't I always had to stand back for her?
You know that I have. I have given up my prettiest things to her, and
been second in everything. But she shall not be first with my father.
She shall not," she repeated passionately.

"You do not realize what you are saying, Beatrice," said Mrs. Raymond
coldly, surprised and shocked by the girl's bi