"Mine was gone before we had been a month married. William killed it."

The Dean exclaimed:

"I hear always of his interest in religious matters!"

"He cares for nothing so much--and he doesn't believe one single word of
anything! I was brought up in a convent, you know--but William laughed
it all out of me."

"Dear Lady Kitty!"

Kitty nodded. "And now, of course, I know there's nothing in it. Oh! I
<i>do</i> beg your pardon!" she said, eagerly. "I never meant to say anything
rude to <i>you.</i> And I must go!" She looked up at an open window on the
second floor of the house. The Dean supposed it was the nursery, and
began to ask after the boy. But before he could frame his question she
was gone, flying over the grass with a foot that scarcely seemed to
touch it.

"Poor child, poor child!" murmured the Dean, in a most genuine distress.
But it was not the boy he was thinking of.

Presently, however, he was overtaken by Miss French, of whom he inquired
how the baby was.

Margaret hesitated. "He seems to lose strength," she said, sadly. "The
doctor declares there is no danger, unless--"

"Unless what?"

"Oh! but it's so unlikely!" was her hasty reply. "Don't let's think of
it."

* * * * *

Kitty was just giving a last look at herself in the large mirror which
lined half one of the sides of her room when Ashe invaded her. She
glanced at him askance a little, and when the maid had gone Kitty
hurriedly gathered up gloves and fan and prepared to follow her.

"Kitty--one word!"

He caught her in his arm, and held her while he looked down upon her
sparkling dress and half-reluctant face. "Kitty, do be nice to that old
fellow to-night! It's only for two nights. Take him in the right way,
and make a conquest of him--for good. He's been very decent to me in our
walk--though you did say such extraordinary things to him this
afternoon. I believe he really wants to make amends."

"I do hate his white eyelashes so," said Kitty, slowly.

"What does it matter," cried Ashe, angrily, "whether he were a
blue-faced baboon!--for two nights? Just listen to him a little,
Kitty--that's all he wants. And--don't be offended!--but hold your own
small tongue--just a little!"

Kitty pulled herself away.

"I believe I shall do something dreadful," she said, quietly.

A sternness to which Ashe's good-humored face was almost wholly strange
showed itself in his expression.

"Why should you do