her a rapturous kiss which the girl rubbed off an instant later.

Miss Arran was truly glad to see her and they exchanged warm wishes.

"We have a new caretaker, quite a young woman, but I do not take a real
fancy to her. Your mother, oh, excuse me saying that--was so neat and
particular and did every thing so well."

Marguerite smiled. She had often added touches of order and neatness,
and kept the room tidy with a taste that never appealed to Mrs. Boyd.
Though, perhaps, it had in her earlier years. The young girl could
understand now, how gradually she had failed.

And there was Mrs. Dane with her cordial grasp and the heartiness of her
greeting. Whatever distrust she might have had had vanished.

"We are so glad to have you back again," she exclaimed, "and such a
bright future opening before you, though I must have given you the same
respect if you had been here teaching. Mrs. Barrington doesn't often
take such a fancy to anyone. She did from the very first, and though
you'll find the money and position will make a difference in some
quarters, it never would have with her."

"Oh, I am sure of that," responded the girl earnestly.

The two ladies had settled about the studies and the music and Mrs.
Barrington explained a little plan. All the girls would be in by
Saturday and she thought it would be well to introduce Marguerite in her
new circumstances. She would, therefore, give a little dinner at which
the sisters should be the guests of honor. That would prevent any gossip
or comment and give Marguerite that home feeling with the other
students. Mrs. Crawford assented cordially.

"And now, we must go or we will be late for lunch. I can never thank you
enough for your kindly interest in my dear girl when she came to you an
unknown stranger and if anything should happen to me, for I have
wondered if one could be so happy and enjoy it for long, I should want
you always to be her friend."

"You may depend upon that, but the good days are only the outgrowth of
patiently borne bad ones; beauty for ashes."

Mrs. Crawford was very bright at luncheon. She announced to Zaidee Mrs.
Harrington's plan for the informal dinner.

"Why, I think it excellent," declared Zaidee. "You see, we should both
be questioned. It's awfully tiresome to have to tell an occurrence over
and over and Mrs. Barrington would carry conviction. I hope you won't
mind, Marguerite. See what it is to be a heroine."

"I was nearly killed with Mis