"I don't know. He is on ever so many committees, and is superintendent of the Sunday-school, and our minister wants him here and there and everywhere. He is so energetic and bright, and people think so much of him, that he has no time. Then the letters he has to write! But if the children do anything _very_ bad, he lets everything go till he has seen to them." "Frank would not have married this poor, languid, inefficient woman if I had had the faith I ought," thought Mrs. Grey. "But she is not accountable for gifts never afforded her, dear child." That evening Lily went early to bed with an attack of neuralgia brought on by one of her fruitless attempts to subdue Frank. Mrs. Grey seized the opportunity to talk with the boy's father on the subject of sending him from home. To her surprise, he at once yielded to her suggestions. "You understand human nature well enough," he said, "to know that while I may allow that my wife has disappointed me in some things, I can't stand it to hear a word said against her, even by you. I love her; and though I wish she had more energy of character, and kept my house and my children in better order, I would not change her for any other woman I know." "I should hope not!" was the reply. "And I think if the three elder children were off her hands she would have better health, and look after the house more." "I shouldn't like to send Gabrielle to a boarding school," he said. "Nor would I have you do it. I propose to take her home with me." Grateful tears filled Frank's eyes as this unexpected offer fell upon his ear. "Oh, mother!" he cried, "if you knew how many times I have wished this could be! If our eldest girl could be trained by you, this home of ours would, by and by, be transformed." "I cannot work miracles," she replied, "but I am more than willing to try to benefit Gabrielle. Now about the boys; have they any vices?" "No, indeed. They are just two great hearty, healthy, noisy fellows, not at all obstinate when I take them in hand, but too much for their delicate little mother." "Are they truthful?" "Yes. Never knew either of them to tell a falsehood." "Then I think I can kill two birds with one stone. Belle and Cyril have a hard time with his insufficient salary, and I think they might be induced to take charge of your boys. Cyril needs more books, and Belle needs a good seamstress; you can afford to pay a fair price for advantages money alone could not purchase. I don't think they would, on a mere pecuniary consideration, burden themselves with new cares. But they do not live for what they can get, but for what they can do." "You have made me almost a boy again," he replied; "you have lifted my greatest cares off my shoulders." "Well, do write to Cyril to-night, and I will write to Belle; then, if they agree to the plan, the boys can start with me, and be left at Lancaster." Frank wrote his letter, and Mrs. Grey wrote hers; this was Belle's reply: