“Well, everybody has been expecting you to for the last three or four years, and if you don’t intend to you will please not give people further reason to gossip about you while you are in my house. The best people have dropped you for it and I don’t care to be included.” “Why, Cousin Minnie----” began Nannie, tearful in an instant. “Where do you get so many good clothes?” “Cousin Minnie” interrupted. “Why--why----” Nannie faltered. But “Cousin Minnie” did not remain to discuss the matter. This, and a number of similar happenings, led Nannie to consider her position seriously, and she made a surreptitious pilgrimage to consult her oracle, Professor Walsh, regarding her future. “We can not marry for another year, at least, Anna,” said he didactically. Nannie’s eyes opened wide at this. “Of course, Edward,” she acquiesced dutifully. “Could you not visit your daughter for a while?” he suggested. “As a rule it is not best to remain too long with one relative.” Nannie swallowed hard, as the recollection of her letter on the occasion of Lucy’s marriage came over her. “But, Edward, I’ve told you how matters are between Lucy and me. You know how Mother took her going away and marrying a stranger afterward.” “Just a minute, Anna. Don’t become so excited. Remember what I have told you so often, that ‘stillness of form and steadiness of feature are signal marks of good breeding.’ I was just about to say that now your mother is dead, it is a good time to write your daughter and renew your old relations with her. She will be most useful to us, and besides, a mother and daughter should not be separated.” “I’m sure I have no hard feelings toward Lucy,” admitted Nannie, somewhat uneasily. “Quite so, quite so. A letter properly written would in all probability readjust matters satisfactorily to all. You might advert to the fact that your mother persisted in a hostile attitude and that you were dependent on her. Also you had best adopt a generous tone.” “Very well, Edward,” agreed Nannie. “Good. Now that is settled. You had better write at once, my dear. And you might let me see the letter before sending it.” Nannie wrote that night. The letter began vaguely. Mrs. Lockhart’s memory was invoked. Forgiveness was offered, though for what was not specified, a reconciliation was taken for granted, and a visit to Lucy proposed in terms that were difficult to ignore or refuse. Nannie pathetically reminded Lucy that Arthur paid no alimony, and recounted indignantly the heartlessness of the Sheldons. The letter contained no mention of Professor Walsh. “I am thrown on the world,” concluded the epistle. “Your father has deserted me and my own relatives have threatened to put me in the street.” In a few days came Lucy’s reply. It was an invitation to pass an indefinite time at Rosedene. X