dining-room fire. A large basket, filled with little garments ready for mending, lay on the floor at her feet, and her working materials were close by; but, for a won

ll I not?" came often to her lips. Many things seemed to tear her judgment in divers ways; most of all the look in her little son's eyes when he asked that eager, impatient question, "mother, why aren't we rich?" but other and older voices t

red sometimes," sighe

t contrast in their faces-a greater almost in their voices, in the ton

hard fight has ended

" said the wife, moving her husba

emptation and doubt seemed to wrap her round like a mist, and prevent her seeing any of the shining of the blue sky. Well, it all passed away at the last, and there was nothing but a steadfast l

er as he said these last words. His wife laid her hand sympathizingly on hi

by to-nigh

ough at last. He will have rest no

im from catching another cold

ttle mite. And oh! Angus, the nursery is such a co

led out with a great irr

ere rich, so do not I; I am quite content. I go among so very much poorer people than myself, Lottie, that it always seems to me I have far

-coat as you have just taken off, and then I know you want better food, and wine; you are s

ttie, be sensible; we must not begin to repine for what we

u at last, I have long been making up my mind. The truth is, Angus, I can't look at the children-I can't look at you an

tti

s Home, had it passed the lips of another. But he knew the woman h

secret from me," he said. "W

to myself, and she only told me when she was dying.

t soothe me, for though I am, I own, tired,

fess to a little bit of d

o wonder you cried, with such a heavy burden

a good clear hand, a hand easily read. I showed her what I could do, and she was good enough to call it excellent. She said no more then, but the next day she came early. She brought me a MS. written by a friend of hers; very illegible it was. She would not tell me the name of her friend, but she said she was a lady very desirous of seeing herself in print. If I would copy this illegible writing in my own good clear hand, the lady would give me five pounds. I thought of the children's boots and their winter dresses, and I toiled over it. I confess now that it was weary work, and tired me more than I cared to own. I finished it to-day; this evening, just before you came hom

, wife! your own nam

unger than I, she was not much. She had a thoughtful face, a noble face. I could have drawn tears from her eyes had I described the little children, but I did not.

cited now, the color had come into her cheeks, her eyes s

and give my services till one o'clock. I am then to have lunch with the young lady, and for all this, and the enjoyme

you are and how impossible it is for you to let the grass grow under your feet. I do not object to you

ty to throw it away. But, as you say, they must not be neglected. I shall ask that little Alice Martin

irty shillings is to you-eh, Lotti

ight look left her face. Her

you have got to t

all day that I can keep it to myself no longer. Angus, prepare for a surprise; that beautiful

lotte? But I never knew y

g. She was sorry afterwards that she had even done that; she begged of me, unless great necessity arose, not to say anything to

lations. I don't know that it m

to tell you all. You know how poor I was when yo

e thought two hundred a year, which was what

amusements which seem to come naturally into the lives of most young girls, that I had ceased to miss them. I was sent to a rather good school, and had lessons in music and paint

o Hertfordshire; you we

older than I, who died, and that our Harold reminded her of him. One night, I remember so well, I was sitting up with her. She had been going through great pain, but towards t

ould bear to part with it before but I don't mind his having it. Open my wardrobe, C

g, yellow, it is true, with age, but

er get such a valuable dress as this? Why, t

ther, stroking down the soft lace and muslin with

never thought that you and I had

emember your

ow could I? I was only tw

nt into a doze, but my curiosity and wonder were

t day. 'Why did you never tell me before? The next best

ought what you had never known or thought of you would

When I look at Angus I long to get him every luxury, and I want my little Harold to

wered my dear dying mother. 'Riches bring a snare

u are well acquainted with this subject.

ou the least good; but as I have said so

told me the following st

had plenty of money she wanted for nothing. My father was an old man, as I have said, and he was tired of fuss, and also of much society; so though they were so rich mother lived rather a lonely life-in a large and beautiful place in Hertfordshire. She said the place was called the Hermitage, and was one of the largest and best in the neighborhood. At last my father fell ill, very ill, and the doctors said he must die. Then for the first time there came hastening back to the Hermitage the two elder sons-their names were John and Jasper-the eldest J

ittle Charlotte. I should like this little Charlotte and his to be friends; they are both called after my own mo

sons, John and Jasper. Jasper expressed great surprise; he even said it was a monstrously unfair thing of his father to do, and that certainly he and his brother would try to rectify it in a measure. He then went back to London, and mother was left alone in the great empty house. She said she felt quite stunned, and was just then in such grief for my father that she scarcely heeded the fact that she was left penniless. Two days afterwards a lawyer from London came down to see her. He came with a message from her two stepsons. They were much concerned for her, and they were willing to help her. They would allow her, between them, as long as she lived the interest on three thousand pounds-on one condition. The condition was this: she was never to claim the very least relationship wi

er brief recital, to rise to her husband's face. "My dear mother died a day or two afterwards. She died regretting having to own even wha

t, not yet, never, perhaps, unless fitting opportunity arises. But I know what I think, mother-what, indeed, I

such a thought in your heart-my darling, my darling. Indeed it is utterly impossible. It was a real, real will. I heard it read,

ar mother and shortly afterwards