But contrary to their expectation after a moment’s amazement he began to laugh. “She’ll do,” he said to Mrs. Blossom with a nod of approval. “Grit like that will pull through every time, and she’s got it about right, too. Upon my word,” rubbing his hands as if at a sudden idea, “if no one else puts in a claim I will be tempted to adopt her myself. I believe an education wouldn’t be wasted, and with her spunk I’d like to see what she would make.” One good thing about Rose’s temper was that though fiery its flame was quickly spent, and penitence was almost sure to swiftly follow wrath. It was so in this case; hardly had he ceased speaking when a meek little voice was heard, “I didn’t do right at all, Mr. Fifield, to talk to you as I did, and I hope you’ll forgive me?” “Well, my dear,” was the answer, “I didn’t do right either in being so ready to think evil of you, in being on the lookout for something wrong, as I was, and I hope you’ll forgive me?” “And me, too,” sobbed Miss Eudora. “I never was hard on anybody before in my life, and I’m sure I never will be again.” “And now,” observed Miss Fifield drily, “I suppose I ought to ask to be forgiven for being the guilty one.” “Oh, Miss Fifield,” and Rose caught her hand, “we all forget things; I know I tried you lots of times by forgetting. It wasn’t—I suppose—strange they should have thought as they did, but it’s all right now. And please promise me, Mr. Fifield and Miss Eudora, that you will let it all go, and never say anything unpleasant to Miss Fifield about it.” “Why, child!” cried Mr. Nathan, as if astonished at the idea, “I wouldn’t say anything unpleasant to my sisters, I never do. Of course I have to hold them level now and then, but I don’t know as I ever spoke a really unpleasant word to them in my life.” “Yes,” Miss Fifield’s tone was complacent, “that is one of the things I have always been thankful for, that we were a perfectly harmonious family. I don’t deny that I am tried sometimes with Nathan and Eudora, but I never let them know it.” “I have my trials, too,” added Miss Eudora with a pensive shake of her little grey curls, “but I bear them in silence. Family squabbles are so disgraceful that I don’t see how a person of refinement could ever take part in one.” Rose stared round-eyed from one to another speaker, and Silence Blossom turned her face away for a moment; but Grandmother Sweet smiled gently, for she had long ago learned how seldom it is that people know their own faults, or see themselves as others see them. As they were leaving Miss Fifield turned to Rose. “Of course we shall want you to come back to us. When will that be?” “Not just at present,” Mrs. Blossom hastened to answer. “First of all she must have time to rest and get back to her usual self.” Rose lifted grateful eyes, for at that moment it didn’t seem to her that she could enter the Fifield house again.