The Washington herald., 1908-01-07
CHAPTER VII.

fantastic shadows on the ceiling.
She had been sent TO bed very early
You look so tired, you poor thing d"
Camilla had said. as they had sat at
dinner.
She herself was going out TO a bridge
party, but she had insisted on Agnes
Brenton and Katherine sharing dainty
little dinner with her.
OF course, it was at her suggestion that
Miss Granger was sleeping with the chill
dren.
"As you are going to stay with me- :"
she had said, when she tarried d little
while in the nursery after Mrs Brenton
had gone downstairs, Il think we had
better start as we intend to 90 on. Ag-
nes, / know, wants to carry you home
again with her tonight, but Betty and
Baby want you-dOn't you. daTlings?'
katherine asked for nothing better, eX-
cept, indeed, that she was divided in her
desire TO show Difference to both these
women who were so extraordinarily kind
10 her.
4 only hope I shall do" she said
earnestly.
Camilla had laughed at this.
Her baby had climbed on her knee, and
was cue ding her very tightly.
said. Il am only afraid YOU won't stand
our ways. This is a very funny sort of
household; isn't ii. Betty?"
The child nodded her head wisely. She
looked SO pretty with her bright hair
screwed up IN curl rags.
IT was Katherine who introduced the
subject Of Rupert HaverfOrd
Il fancy Mrs. Brenton thinks / ought
10 have referred things TO Mr. Haver-
ford" she had said, d little hesitatingly
Il know" Mrs. Lancing had answered
quickly, but 1 don't in the least see that
of course, you went to Mr.. HaveTford
last night because you did not know what
else TO do. But, surely, that does not
entitle him TO order aE your ways? I
shall be awfully disappointed if you don't
stay with me-" she finished; and Kath-
crime had laughed softly al this.
Then, you shall not be disappointed 3"
she had answered.
And SO everything had been arranged,
and when Mrs. Lancing had whisked
away for a long and late evening AT cards
Mrs BrentOn had kissed the girl, and
told her TO go To rest.
Camilla is right; you do look very
tired, she said
''Oh, / am always pale. but I am not
really tired-I am only happy. / don't
7 feel. just a little while ago I seemed
To have nothing given to me, that moth
ing was possible and now I feel almost
as If ] had found everything that had
been lacking all these years.
only because you have settled to be
the governess to two children who are
bound TO be naughty and tiresome some
times. you know
No, not entirely because Of that. "
katherine answered.
There was something familiar TO her
TO find herself occupying a small bed in
room with children. but this was the
only element that was familiar; all the
rest was so new and so sweet.
As she lay on the pillows and looked
from one little sleeping form 10 the other
her eyes filled and she had a luttering
sensation at her heart
After SO many barren years these last
few hours seemed over fun with sym
pathy and kindness. and with that recog-
milton from others that almost amounted
10 kinship
She found herself endowed with a per
sOnality all AT once.
1t was very strange TO realize that she
had some defined standing: now that the
oppression of dependence had been lifted.
she marveled that she could have en-
dured the burden So long.
But it is too good 10 last" she said 10
herself once or twice. 81 know something
viii happen, and / shall go out into the
cold again"
OF course, she could not sleep. She
thought Of d dozen things at the same
time.
The spell of Camlla's magnetic person
atty, the calm strength and womanli-
ness 2f Agnes BrentOn. the charm and
prattle of the children, held her in sway
alternatNely, and kept alive that new
sense of warmth that had been kindled in
her heart.
Every now and then, too, Rupert
Haverford would come into her thoughts.
A note had been sent round from Mrs.
BrentOn's lodgings addressed to herself,
and given to her just as she was going
upstairs. In this Haverford had written
that he regretted that he was called
north on very important matters but
that he had spoken to the lady of whom
he had told her. and that a home was az
ranged for her until she could make other
plans.
My absence may delay the explanation
you desire from my mother" Rupert had
written, but in the event Of your re-
quLring any reference, you VIII, OF course.
use my name
Il was a brief and very businesslike
letter, bat Miss Granger felt grateful to
him all the same.
Assuredly he must have troubled him
self about her even to have made such
arrangements.
Once. indeed she felt little qualm.
Perhaps Mrs. Brent0n was right, and
I ought to have asked his advice" The
next moment however, she dismissed
this 1T cannot matter to him how
earn lay bread
Il shall send him back the greater por-
tion Of the money he lent me-" she deter
mined at another moment I must get
myself a few things te wear. I cannot
go about with the children quite so
shabby as l was to-day But ! shall not
require more than half the money he
lent me, and I shall pay the other off as
quickly as ! can get my salary"
When she remembered his mother she
laughed
Explanation It is very evident that
he does not know her as we'll as I do"
It was very late before Katherine's eyes
closed drOwsiiy, and then she had slept
scarcely an hour when she was awakened
with a start.
Little hands were pulling her. and a
little voice was whispering out OF the
darkness:
"kattawlne! Kattswine, May I come IN
jour hed?"
Instantly the girl was awake. She sat
UP and held out her arms.
Dennis had warned her:
If Miss Baby wants to rouse YOU and
creep in with you, don't you let her, miss, ~
she had said; you'll want all the rest
you can get, and children shouldn't never
10 csaH in, sgah N
But Katherine forgot to be sensible
rules and regulations went down before
the sweetness, the delight. of holding that
L. -.