"Mildred, dear," Ann said anxiously, "Floyd and Fledra were unfortunate in losing their mother, and more unfortunate in having a father who doesn't care for them as your father does for you." She passed an arm about Fledra and continued, "It would be better if we were not to talk of family troubles any more, Floyd.... Fledra, won't you ask Mildred to play something for you?" The rest of Mildred's stay was so strained that Miss Shellington breathed a sigh of relief when Katherine suggested going. For a few seconds neither Ann nor Fledra spoke after the closing of the door. It was the latter who finally broke the silence. "Flukey hadn't ought to have said anything about Pappy Lon; but he didn't know--he thought everybody knew about us.... Are ye going to send us away now?" The girl's anxiety and worried look caused Ann to reassure her quickly. * * * * * In describing the events of the afternoon to her mother, Mildred wept bitterly. When a grave look spread over Mrs. Vandecar's face, Katherine interposed: "Aunty, while those children undoubtedly had bad parents, they will really amount to something, I'm sure." It was not until she was alone with Katherine that Mrs. Vandecar opened the subject. "I'm almost afraid I was incautious to allow a friendship to spring up between this strange child and Mildred. I wish I could see her." "Ask her here, then. She's very pretty, very gentle, and needs young friends sadly, although the Shellingtons are treating the two children beautifully. If they don't grow up to be good, it won't be Ann's fault, nor Horace's." "I'll invite the child to come some afternoon, then." With this decision the subject dropped. * * * * * That evening Ann went out on a charitable mission, leaving Fledra to deliver a message to Everett and to care for Floyd. The boy was in bed, his thin white hands resting wearily at his sides. For sometime he allowed his sister to work at her lessons. Then he said impetuously: "Flea, why be these folks always so kind to you and me? They ain't never been mad yet, and I'm allers a yowlin' 'cause my bones and my heart hurt me." Flea looked up from her book meditatively. "They're both good, that's why." "It's 'cause they pray all the time, ain't it?" Floyd asked. "I guess so." "I'd a died those nights if Sister Ann hadn't prayed for me, wouldn't I, Flea?" "Yes," replied Flea in abstraction. After a silence, Floyd spoke again: "Flea, do you like that feller what Sister Ann's going to marry?" The girl dropped a monosyllabic negative and fell to studying. "Why?" insisted Floyd. Before Flea could reply, a servant appeared at the door, saying that Mr. Brimbecomb wanted Miss Shellington. [Illustration: "IT WERE A PRINCE--A REAL LIVE PRINCE!"]