"If my dear sister knew how much good it would do me to have her spend the afternoon and evening here, I think she would come." "GERTRUDE." Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert speedily convinced their visitor that they took a more than ordinary interest in his sister; and gave their full approval to their daughter's plan; which was that she should review her school lessons, allowing Gertrude to study them; and then that they examine each other preparatory to a more rigorous subsequent examination by the pastor. "Nothing could have pleased me better than such a plan," warmly responded Mr. Wallingford. "I fully appreciate the delicacy with which the proposal is made; and give my hearty consent on one condition. I know enough of a minister's' life to understand that his hours of leisure are rare; and therefore precious. If you consent, sir, to devote even a brief portion of this leisure to your unfortunate parishioner, I shall insist on your accepting this small sum;" opening his portemonnaie and putting into the clergyman's hand two fifty dollar bills. "As for Miss Marion, I accept her proffered kindness in the same spirit it is offered; and believe she will find in her own heart a reward for her warm interest in a desolate stranger." CHAPTER XI. JOYS AND SORROWS. "THANK you, Mr. Wallingford," returned Marion, her cheeks glowing with pleasure. "I loved Gerty the first time I saw her; and now it will be such happiness to feel that you have left her in my charge. Papa doesn't want your money. He's always doing kind things for every body; and he will take his reward in hearing my pet sing." But the gentleman insisted that he could not take the trouble to unclasp his portemonnaie again, and left the bills on the table where Dr. Gilbert had quietly deposited them. "I have a condition too," explained Marion as they were walking together to Mr. Dudley's. "I want this arrangement to be entirely between Gerty and myself." "Why so?" "You are too shrewd a lawyer to ask me to explain." "Do you imagine my brother-in-law will object?" "Perhaps not in so many words, but he knows I have heard some remarks concerning his neglect of his child-wife; and she might be annoyed,—I may not feel right about it; but I fear obstacles would be thrown in the way of our meeting daily, as we must; for I intend to give my little friend lessons in housekeeping as well as in literature." "Wallingford," said Paul in the evening of the same day when Marion had accompanied Gertrude to her chamber; "Will you take charge of a lady to New York? A friend of mine, Miss Richmond, whom you met at our house in Philadelphia, has been spending a few months in Chicago, and wishes to return home. Do you remember her?" "Yes, I saw her the other evening as you were coming out of the theatre."