"Oh," said Helena, very softly, "then you are an orphan? I think that is the saddest thing in the world--to have no father and mother on earth." "My father is living--but he has another wife, and I never see him," Dolores explained, "and I feel that I am an orphan. I live with my mother's brother--my Uncle Laurence, when I am at home. But I think we ought to retire early to-night, Miss Lena--you look very tired; this has been a hard day for you." As they disrobed together, Helena's admiration for her companion's beauty broke forth again. "You have the loveliest hair I ever saw," she said. "How I would love to see a picture of you with it flowing about your shoulders like that." As malice creates malice, so generosity awakens generosity. Dolores, who was usually quite too indifferent to individuals to particularly notice, much less mention their pleasing traits, now smilingly replied to Helena's eulogy: "And I would like a picture of your beautiful neck and shoulders; you have the form of a young goddess, my dear." "Have I?" cried Helena with childish delight, "why, I am sure no one ever said so before--only Papa told me there was a classic slope to my shoulders--I always remembered that compliment--as I shall yours. I just worship beauty, and I am so grateful to heaven for the least little spark of prettiness it has given me, and I try to make the most of myself in every way. I think the Creator meant all women to be lovely; Eve was beautiful, I am sure; and it is only by disobeying the laws of health, and not thinking the right thoughts that her descendants have grown deformed and unattractive. That is what Mamma thinks, and I believe it is true too." "Are you quite ready to retire," asked Dolores, as she saw Helena let down her brown hair over her snowy night-dress. "If so, I will put out the light." "Oh dear, no," laughed Helena, "you have no idea how long a time I require at my toilet night and morning. You know I told you I tried to make the most of myself every way. Now nature did not give me much beauty to begin with, but Mamma says I can greatly improve on what was given me. My hair is not very fine or soft, so I give it a hundred strokes of the brush every night, and fifty every morning. Then I take ever so much pains with my teeth and nails--for they are very obvious features, you know, and my nails are inclined to be ugly--not naturally long and shapely like yours. And I am so fond of bathing, that Mamma says she ought to keep me in an aquarium with the gold fish." "But you will find it very difficult to get time for so many elaborate ceremonies here at school," said Dolores.