Some four years previously, when a baby was in prospect for Minna, who wore no wedding-ring, Mrs. Galland had been inclined to send the maid to an institution, "where they will take good care of her, my dear. That's what such institutions are for. It is quite scandalous for her and for us--never happened in our family before!" Marta arched her eyebrows. "We don't know!" she exclaimed softly. "How can you think such a thing, let alone saying it--you, a Galland!" her mother gasped in indignation. "That is, if we go far back," said Marta. "At all events, we have no precedent, so let's establish one by keeping her." "But for her own sake! She will have to live with her shame!" Mrs. Galland objected. "Let her begin afresh in the city. We shall give her a good recommendation, for she is really an excellent servant. Yes, she will readily find a place among strangers." "Still, she doesn't want to go, and it would be cruel to send her away." "Cruel! Why, Marta, do you think I would be cruel? Oh, very well, then we will let her stay!" * * * * * "Both are away at church. Mrs. Galland ought to be here any minute, but Miss Galland will be later because of her children's class," said Minna. "Will you wait on the veranda?" He was saying that he would stroll in the garden when childish footsteps were heard in the hall, and after a curly head had nestled against the mother's skirts its owner, reminded of the importance of manners in the world where the stork had left her, made a curtsey. Lanstron shook a small hand which must have lately been on intimate terms with sugar or jam. "How do you do, flying soldier man?" chirruped Clarissa Eileen. It was evident that she held Lanstron in high favor. "Let me hear you say your name," said Lanstron. Clarissa Eileen was triumphant. She had been waiting for days with the revelation when he should make that old request. Now she enunciated it with every vowel and consonant correctly and primly uttered; indeed, she repeated it four or five times in proof of complete mastery. "A pretty name. I've often wondered how you came to give it to her," said Lanstron to Minna. "You do like it!" exclaimed Minna with girlish eagerness. "I gave her the most beautiful name I could think of because"--she laid her hand caressingly on the child's head and a madonna-like radiance stole into her face--"because she might at least have a beautiful name when"--the dull blaze of a recollection now burning in her eyes--"when there wasn't much prospect of many beautiful things coming into her life; though I know, of course, that the world thinks she ought to be called Maggie." * * * * *