The Washington herald., 1908-01-05
BY
MARIA.
ALBANESI
: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Miss Granger" she said, and they have
been entreating me to let you stay with
them I wish you would! I am so tired
of having ignorant and unsympathetic
people about them. Agnes was telling
me this morning that you would like TO
be with children. why shouldn't YOU be
with mine?"
Katherine did not find it very easy to
speak.
Mrs. Laneing's manner charmed and
vet startled her; it was so new. too, and
so pleasant, to be addressed in this semi
familiar, easy fashion
When she found her voice it was to
make a protest.
Il do love children she said, "and it
would be a great happiness TO me to be
with yours But you don't know any
thing about me- / am sure you would
want some one cleverer and better than
| am. and then''-the girl paused an in
stant-"Mrs Baynhurst is sure to give
me a very bad character she added,
hurredly.
Camilla snapped her fingers.
II am not going to trouble about Mrs.
Baynhurst." she said Everybody knows
that she is a crank. Look here, Wen
settle ali sorts of things afterward. Now
! must go upstairs, OF l shall have my
dear slster-in-law crawling down to see
what I am doing. Betty will come down
to mnch," Camilla added "and it would
be so sweet Of you If you would just keep
an eye on her: she shall sit next to you.
Would you like TO go up TO the nursery
and come down with heT?'-this was sug-
gcsted with the air Of one who has a
sudden and happy inspiration. You can
leave your hat and coat IN my bedroom.
So Katherine followed Mrs. Lancing up
the stairs.
She was fascinated into compliance.
Camilla's pretty ways won her heart
very much as the children had won it.
There was something magnetic in the
sympathy which pervaded her
The girl felt bewildered, and moved,
and excited, but only ia a pleasurable
sense.
When they reached the drawing room
door Mrs. Lancing smiled and whispered.
My room Is on the floor above this. -
she said and the nursery is above that
{ again Do. like a dear, see that Betty
has her hair done, and that her face and
hands are washed. Her aunt always ex-
mines her as If she were a curious insect
her dinner with Dennis, and come down
later"
Camilla gave a little sigh of content
ment as Miss Granger passed up the
stairs, and she glanced at herself IN a
) long mirror that was placed at a con
venient angle 30 make the staircase seem
! bigger.
Her appearance satisfied her Dennis
, had picked out the oldest gown she pos
sessed, and she had carefully denuded
herself Of all the little jewelry that she
was accustomed 10 wear. But a shabby
/ gown could not dim the real radiance OF
her beauty
. Mrs. Horace Lancing was sitting bolt
upright by the fire. talking 20 Agnes
Brenton she was rather plump. with
masses Of yeliowish hair, had short
sighted eyes. and a dull white skin. She
always used long. blue-tlnted glasses,
and turned them on Camilla now
1t was evident that the drawing-room
had been arranged for her coming Like
! Camilla's own charming person the room
had been swept Of innumerable little
prettinesses, and It looked bare and al
most shabby.
! Str samuers flowers had been carefully
concealed.
/ Dear Violet" Camilla said wont you
really take of your hat? 1t looks as If
! you were going 10 rush away so soon,
dear, and, of course, you are going TO
stay the afternoon.
Mrs. Horace Lancing shook her head
stifiy.
: Il have to meet Horace at the army
and navy stores at g. she said; I'VE are
going back by the $50 train, so I must
leave you early. Aren't the children in
yet Camilla?"
Betty IS Being made ready for lunch
con. and Baby viii come down by-and by.
{ You have no idea, Agnes, how much I
Ike Miss Granger, the chGdren's new
/ governess," Camilla explained to her sis
ter-in-law.
3 Mrs. BrentOn half frowned and half
smiled. She had not supposed that mat
! ter5 would have gone so far in so short q
time. and resented the prevaricati0n on
Katherinc's account and on her own. But
she said nothing.
Isn't that a new photograph of YOU,
3 Camilla?' asked Mrs. Lancing. getting up
, and peering at a frame on the piano.
"A snapshot" said Camilla, lightly. She
r moved near 10 Mrs. Brenton for an in
stant, and said in a low tone, Don't
= glare at me so fiercely. Agnes. have ar
ranged everything; she is enchanted. and
me-"
Mrs. Horace Lancing put down the Dor
r trait
r Extremely well done for a snapshot, "
she said, coldly. Il did not know you
went IN motors; those furs are new to
3 me"
, Camilla laughed.
4 am fraud, she cried, dressed up
IN other peoples possessions. All, here is
| lunch at last. I hope you can eat leg of
) mutton, Violet? ] confess 1 am not very
fond OF it. but, with a sigh, everything
! nice is so dear. Don't you think life costs
) more and more every day?"
out on the staircase Betty was stand
; Ing with her arm entwined in Rathe-
rine's. She allowed herself to be kissed
with reluctance by her aunt, but cIung
about her mothers neck ecstaticallv for a
moment.
Mrs. Lancing had done we'll to warn her
guests; it was a very depressing lunch
con; the mutton was underdone the
greens were gritty, and the potatoes full
, Of water. Camilla made a few apologies
a good cook is quite beyond nv
means, you know" she said. plaintivelv.
Mrs Brenton tried hard not TO laugh as
she remembered the dainty fare Camilla's
cook usually provided
She made the best of everything but
Mrs. Horace Lancing, who was very hun
cry, looked annoyed
l never have cheap food" she OBJ
served, 'it is not an economy"
AT this Camilla opened her eyes.
DO you really think that?" she asked
and am always trying TO be so very
cheap"
Conversation Jagged. Betty. at the
lower end of the table. had a good deal
to say to Miss Granger. but it was all
said In whispers.
When, however, the suet pudding with
treacle had made its round. the child de-
manded some dessert ond bar ,,,o.l,