e
of an omnipotent advocate on his side, Peter walked majestically
away.

At first he thought he would go to Filmer Hall in the morning, and
bring home his child. But a little reflection showed him how
unnecessary and unwise such a movement would be. "I will leave God to
order events, which are his work, not mine," he thought, "and if Yanna
pleases God, and pleases herself, she will not displease me."

Adriana, knowing nothing of this petty tumult of envy, was very
happy. Harry did not go to New York the following day. He only
talked of the city, and wondered why he wanted to stay away from it.
"It is my native air," he said, as he struck a match swiftly and lit
his cigar, "and usually I am homesick, the moment I leave it. I
wonder what there is in Filmer Hall to make me forget Broadway; I
do not understand!"--but he understood before he began to speak.

"The place itself is enchanting," said Adriana.

"We are living in Paradise," added Rose.

"Paradise!" cried Mrs. Filmer. "And we have to keep ten servants!
Paradise! Impossible! This morning the laundress was also homesick for
New York; and she has gone back there. I could have better spared any
two other servants; for she was clever enough to deserve the
laundress's vision of St. Joseph--'with a lovely shining hat, and a
shirt buzzom that was never starched in this world.' Harry, why do
people like to go to New York, even in the summer time?"

"Well, mother, if people have to work for their living, New York gives
them a money-making impression. I always catch an itching palm as soon
as I touch its pavements."

"I did not think you were so mercenary, Harry."

"We are nothing, if we are not mercenary. What a gulf of yawns there
is between us and the age that listened to the 'large utterance of the
early gods'!"

"I do not complain of the 'gulf,' Harry; _au contraire_;--here comes
the mail! and the commonplaces of our acquaintances may be quite as
agreeable as the 'what?' of the early gods!" Mrs. Filmer was unlocking
the bag as she spoke, and distributing the letters. Rose had several,
and she went to her room to read and answer them, leaving Adriana and
Harry to amuse themselves. They went first to the piano, and, when
tired of singing, strolled into the woods to talk; and as the day grew
warm, they came back with hands full of mountain laurel and
wild-flowers. Then Harry began to teach Adriana to play chess; and she
learned something more than the ways of k