ing else in New York?"

Hannah laughed disagreeably. She realized the limitations of life in a
town.

"I suppose," said Marcia, her eyes shining with the thought, "that you saw
all the wonderful things of the city. I should enjoy being in New York a
little while. I have heard of so many new things. Were there any ships in
the harbor? I have always wanted to go over a great ship. Did you have
opportunity of seeing one?"

"Oh, dear me. No!" said Hannah. "I shouldn't have cared in the least for
that. I'm sure I don't know whether there were any ships in or not. I
suppose there were. I saw a lot of sails on the water, but I did not ask
about them. I'm not interested in dirty boats. I liked visiting the shops
best. Your sister took me about everywhere. She is a most charming
creature. You must miss her greatly. You were a sly little thing to cut
her out."

Marcia's face flamed crimson with anger and amazement. Hannah's dart had
hit the mark, and she was watching keenly to see her victim quiver.

"I do not understand you," said Marcia with girlish dignity.

"Oh, now don't pretend to misunderstand. I've heard all about it from
headquarters," she said it archly, laughing. "But then I don't blame you.
David was worth it." Hannah ended with a sigh. If she had ever cared for
any one besides herself that one was David Spafford.

"I do not understand you," said Marcia again, drawing herself up with all
the Schuyler haughtiness she could master, till she quite resembled her
father.

"Now, Mrs. Spafford," said the visitor, looking straight into her face and
watching every expression as a cat would watch a mouse, "you don't mean to
tell me your sister was not at one time very intimate with your husband."

"Mr. Spafford has been intimate in our family for a number of years," said
Marcia proudly, her fighting fire up, "but as for my having 'cut my sister
out' as you call it, you have certainly been misinformed. Excuse me, I
think I will close the kitchen door. It seems to blow in here and make a
draft."

Marcia left the room with her head up and her fine color well under
control, and when she came back her head was still up and a distant
expression was in her face. Somehow Hannah felt she had not gained much
after all. But Marcia, after Hannah's departure, went up to her cold room
and wept bitter tears on her pillow alone.

[Illustration: Copyright by C. Klackner
MARCIA PASSED FROM THE OLD STONE CHURC