nd I know that daddy will provide me
with money to carry them out."

"He will do nothing of the sort. His mind is as fully made up as mine
that you are to marry Mr. Donaster. Don't you think that we are more
capable of judging for your good than you?"

"I have very serious doubts about that. I know you will consider me
ungrateful for saying so, but you ask me, and so I am forced to tell
the truth."

"Well, I declare!" and Mrs. Randall looked her astonishment. "What has
come over you, Jess? I never knew you to talk like this before. You
seem to have lost all confidence in your parents' judgment."

"Not all, mother. But I know how you interfered with the boys'
welfare, and look how they have turned out. There was a time when they
wished to go to work and win their own way in the world. But you would
not let them, and spoiled their lives by giving them too much money to
spend, and telling them that it was not dignified to work. And look
what they are now; helpless to do anything for themselves, and a burden
to you. Daddy agreed with everything you said, and see what has
happened. You made a sad mistake with them, and I am determined that
it shall not be so with me."

The girl was trembling violently as she finished, and she had risen to
her feet. The colour had fled from her face, and her hands were firmly
clasped before her. Her mother also rose, and confronted her daughter.

"You are a rebellious and an ungrateful girl," she charged. "To think
of your saying such things after all we have done for you. What do you
mean?"

"Just what I have said, as you will find out. It is about time for me
to assert myself when you are determined to shackle me to a creature I
detest."

"Mr. Donaster is a gentleman, and the son of a gentleman, so you must
not refer to him in such an offensive manner. I absolutely forbid it."

"He may be a gentleman according to the standard of some, but not
according to mine. He is nothing but an unbearable cad, and with no
more character than a jelly-fish. And to think of my having to put up
with a thing like that for the rest of my life. Why, I would rather be
dead."

"It would be almost a relief to me if you were," and Mrs. Randall gave
a deep sigh of despair. "A daughter as wilful as you will only bring
disgrace upon her parents."

"I am surprised at your saying such a thing," the girl replied. "One
would almost imagine you are not my mother at all, you are so
hea