ery little below the level of the street. It had a large bay window bulging out from the second floor, and was graced in front by a small grassy plot, twenty-fi

er, George, Jr., and Jessica. There were besides these a maid-servant, represented from tim

day," was not an unfrequent s

. He had long since wearied of

rong and just the natures cradled and nourished within it. Those who have never experienced such a beneficent influence will not understand wherefore the tear

thingly as the artistic perception of the occupants warranted. There were soft rugs, rich, upholstered chairs and divans, a grand piano, a marble carving of some unknown Venus by some unknown art

no little satisfaction in telling each Mary, shortly after she arrived, something of what the art of the thing required. He was not garrulous by any means. On the contrary, there was a fine reserve in his manner toward the entire domestic economy of his life which

parental devotion. She was in the high school, and had notions of life which were decidedly those of a patrician. She liked nice clothes and urged for them constantly. Thoughts of love and elegant individual establishments were running in her head. She met girls at the high school whose

e had some ability, considerable vanity, and a love of pleasure that had not, as yet, infringed upon his duties, whatever they were. He came in and went out, pursuing his own plans and fancies, addressing a few words to his mother occasionally, relating some l

r. She was not without realisation already that this thing was impossible, so far as she was concerned. For her daughter, she hoped better things. Through Jessica she might rise a little. Through George, Jr.'s, possible success she might draw to herself the privilege of pointing proudly. Even Hurstwo

st be apparent to all. It worked out in a thousand litt

ow," announced George, Jr., at th

up there?" querie

am launch, and he wants me to

t cost him?" as

sand dollars. He s

be making money,

ipping Vega-cura to Australia now-said the

twood, "and only four years ago they

to put up a six-story building

of that!"

ccasion Hurstwood wi

oing down town," h

s Monday?" questioned Mrs.

said ind

ent upstairs for his hat and co

a's gone," s

ol news was of a

in the Lyceum, upstairs," she reporte

" said he

he nicest girls in the school are going to be in i

said Mrs.

a Griswold in it again.

does it?" said Mrs. Hurstwood sympatheti

sica, "they're poo

een the young boys of the school, man

her mother one evening; "that Herbert

dear?" inquired

ng her pretty lips. "He's just a

soap manufacturer, walked home with her. Mrs. Hurstwood was on the third flo

Jessica?" she inquired,

ford, mamma,"

said Mrs.

the park with him," explained Jessica, a

said Mrs. Hurstwood.

nterestedly out of the window. It was a most s

terested in the talk of his son and daughter, who always looked well. The vanity of Mrs. Hurstwood caused her to keep her person rather showily arrayed, but to Hurstwood this was much better than plainness. There was no love lost between them. There was no great feeling of dissatisfaction. Her opinion on any subject was not startling. They did not talk enough together to come to the argument of any one point. In the accepted and popular phrase, she had her ideas and he had his. Once in a while he would meet a woman whose youth, sprightliness, and humour would make his wife seem rather deficient by contrast, but the temporary dissatisfaction which such an encounter mi

those things. If it came up for discussion among such friends as with him passed for close, he would deprecate the folly of the thing. "It was all right t

riosity at times, for she was still attractive in a way and men looked at her. She was affable, vain, subject to flattery, and this combination, he knew quite well, might produce a tragedy in a woman of her home position. Owing to his order of mind, his confidence in the s

ted fine clothes, and Mrs. Hurstwood, not to be outshone by her daughter, also frequentl

dress this month," said M

in one of his perfection vest

e just bought

for evening wear," return

stwood, "that she's spending a

, but the tone of his voice impressed her as con

e her along. On one occasion recently a local aldermanic junket had been arranged t

ignorance and sensuality. He always wore a silk hat of most imposing proportions. "We can have a

ood announced his i

Julia," he said,

he asked,

elphia, on

consciously, expec

leave you behi

s a curious thing. Before he went she asked him a few more questions, and t

and hated thoroughly to make explanations concerning it. The whole incident was glossed over with general remarks, but Mrs. Hurs

force of habit, by force of conventional opinion. With the lapse of time it must neces