"I am sorry not to be as beautiful," she said, with great humility. "I must make up any deficiency by my love and devotion. Oh, it seems as if I had gone into some divine country when love filled the very atmosphere." She held out her hand to her father who crushed it in a tender clasp. "But you are looking pale and weary, mother." What a sweet word it was to say when it was true. "I have had a great deal of excitement these last few days, then the nurse had to go away to a more serious case, but I have tried to obey her injunctions," smiling a little. "Probably I shall never be very robust again, but nothing like this will try nerves. I think I have stood it exceedingly well," glancing up at her husband. "I was very quiet all day yesterday, but I could not help dreaming of the years to come----" "I hope God will give me strength to make them happy. Oh, I want to give you the best of love and service and never pain you by any lack. For you _are_ the mother I have longed for, who could capture and fill my desires. I would like to work for you----" "My dear, if you could be so devoted to the mother who was not your ideal and could not understand your thoughts and feelings, I shall try to come nearer and fill your whole heart, sympathize with your aspirations. I shall be glad to listen to them. Oh, my child, if you had been dull and coarse, but you simply could not have been, and this Mrs. Boyd must have had a certain refinement. I appreciate her more every day as I think it over." "Oh, I thank you for that. It seems to me that I must have been willful at times; but I wanted to take her out of that narrow round as well as myself. I felt so certain I could do it after we came to Mrs. Barrington's. She understood my aims." "You fell into good hands. Oh, how many times we shall talk this over, for I want to know all the incidents of these years we have been apart. When I have lived them with you, I shall feel more truly still that I am your mother. And now are you not a little curious about your new home?" Mrs. Crawford rose with her arm about the girl, and Marguerite glanced about the room. It was exquisitely appointed. The second story rooms were ranged about an oval that gave a picturesque aspect. This and the sleeping rooms were toward the east; Mrs. Crawford had a passion for sunrise. On one side was Zay's room, adjoining it Aunt Kate's. Opposite, two guest rooms with bath and closets. It all seemed like some lovely description she had read of in books. Her girl's heart and the refined tastes that had been her birthright seemed to leap for joy. Was she really to live amid all this loveliness!