unexpected boon of silent seclusion. Her Christmas greeting had been
little Dick's sweet lips kissing her cheek, as he deposited upon her
narrow bed the black and white shawl his mother had knitted, and a box
left by Miss Gordon on the previous day, which contained half a dozen
pretty handkerchiefs with mourning borders, some delicate perfume and
soaps, toilet brushes and a sachet.

An hour later, when Mrs. Singleton and her babies had gone to spend the
day with relatives in the city, Beryl went to the window, pushed the
sash up, and listened to the ringing of the Sabbath-school bells, as
every church beyond the river called its nursery to the altar, to
celebrate the day. The metallic clangor was mellowed by distance,
rising and falling like rhythmic waves, and the faint echo, filtered
through dense pine forests behind the penitentiary, had the ghostly
iteration of the Folge Fond.

A gaunt yellow kitten, with a faded red ribbon knotted about its neck,
and vicious, amber-colored eyes that were a perpetual challenge, had
fled from the tender mercies of Dick to the city of refuge under
Beryl's cot; and community of suffering had kindled an attachment that
now prompted the lesser waif to spring into the girl's folded arms, and
rub its head against her shoulder. Mechanically Beryl's hand stroked
the creature's ear, while it purred softly under the caress; but
suddenly its back curved into an arch, the tail broadened, the purr
became a growl. Had association lifted the brute's instincts to the
plane of human antipathies?

The warden had opened the door and quickly closed it, after ushering in
a tall figure, who wore an overcoat which was buttoned from throat to
knees. At sight of Mr. Dunbar, the cat plunged to the floor, and sped
away to the darkest corner under the iron bedstead.

"Good morning. I dare not utter here the greetings of the day, because
you would construe it into a heartless mockery."

He came forward hesitatingly, and she turned swiftly away, pressing her
face against the bars of the window, waving him back.

"Why will you persist in regarding as an enemy, the one person in all
the world who is most anxious to befriend you?"

Still no answer; only the repellent gesture warning him away.

"Will you allow me, this Christmas morning, to comfort myself in some
degree, by leaving here a few flowers to brighten your desolate
surroundings?"

He held out a bouquet of rare and brilliant hothouse blossoms, who