"Things will work themselves right," said Von Marlo in his solemn way. "Take my word for it, Rachel, things will shape themselves right." I didn't think Von Marlo half so comforting as Hannah on this occasion, and I almost said so, for I felt very snappish. That night I scarcely slept at all. To-morrow would find us with that detestable person in the house--"the new mamma." Of course, she wasn't my mamma, but the world would speak of her in that manner, just as Von Marlo had once done. He would never say those words to my face again. I went to church on Sunday morning, accompanied by Alex and Charley. As we were coming back Augusta Moore rushed up to me. "I thought you were very ill," she said. "We all thought so--Miss Franklin, your form mistress, and all." "I'm not a bit ill," I said. I did not want Augusta's sympathy, or, indeed, to say anything at all to her just then. "Then why didn't you come to school?" I was silent. Augusta took my hand. She pulled it through her arm. "I think I understand," she said. "You were ill in mind; that is the worst sort of illness, isn't it?" She glanced round at Mrs Moore, who was trotting along behind. "Go home, mother; I'll follow you." "You'll lose yourself, Gussie." "Don't call me Gussie. I'll follow you." Mrs Moore said something to me; she was quite nice and commonplace, and did not allude to the subject of the "new mamma." Presently Augusta and I found ourselves alone, for the boys the moment they saw her had taken precious good care to make themselves scarce. We walked on slowly. "I should like to see your house," said Augusta. "You can if you wish to," I replied. I took her in, and the moment she got into the hall she began to sniff. "What is the matter?" I asked. "Books!" she said. "Old leather! How I envy that woman!" "What woman?" "That commonplace person who has dared to marry your father." "Oh well, Augusta, we had better not talk of that." "Not talk of it? Why, it's a weight on my mind always. I only trust she won't make him fall off. Rachel--Rachel Grant--you have a very solemn responsibility before you." "What is that?" "The commonplace woman can do nothing, but you can do a great deal." "In what way?" "You, who are his child, must partake in some way of his nature." "I never had the slightest influence on father," I responded. "I think he often forgets that I exist. I shall certainly have less influence than ever now." "You have influence, but you won't use it. Oh that I were his daughter!" Augusta began to sniff again. Charley came into the room at that moment. "I thought dinner was served," he said. He looked at Augusta. "How do you do?" she said. "You are the son of the greatest of men." "Bosh!" said Charley. He backed towards the door. "I thought," he said, glancing from me to Augusta, and then from Augusta to me again, "that dinner was on the table, and that you were sniffing the good smell." "Books! Books!" said Augusta.