pa is very sober sometimes when he is hard at work," explained Betty
with eagerness. "He gets very tired, and then--oh, I don't mean that
papa is ever aggravating, but for days and days I know that he is
working hard and can't stop to hear about my troubles, so I try not to
talk to him; but he always makes up for it after a while. I don't mind
now, but when I was a little girl and first went away from here I used
to be lonely, and even cry sometimes, and of course I didn't understand.
We get on beautifully now, and I like to read so much that I can always
cover up the dull times with a nice book."

"Do they last long,--the dull times?" asked Mary Beck in an unusually
sympathetic voice. Betty had spoken sadly, and it dawned upon her
friend's mind that life was not all a holiday even to Betty Leicester.

"Ever so long," answered Betty briskly; "but you see I have my mending
and housekeeping when we are in lodgings. We are masters of the
situation now, papa always says; but when I was too small to look after
him, we used to have to depend upon old lodging-house women, and they
made us miserable, though I love them all for the sake of the good ones
who will let you go into the kitchen yourself and make a cup of tea for
papa just right, and be honest and good, and cry when you go away
instead of slamming the door. Oh, I could tell you stories, Mary Eliza
Beck!" and Betty took one or two frisky steps along the sidewalk as if
she meant to dance. Mary Beck felt as if she were looking out of a very
small and high garret window at a vast and surprising world. She was not
sure that she should not like to keep house in country lodgings, though,
and order the dinner, and have a housekeeping purse, as Betty had done
these three or four years. They had often talked about these
experiences; but Becky's heart always faltered when she thought of being
alone in strange houses and walking alone in strange streets. Sometimes
Betty had delightful visits, and excellent town lodgings, and
diversified hotel life of the most entertaining sort. She seemed to be
thinking about all this and reflecting upon it deeply. "I wish that papa
and I were going to be here a year," she said. "I love Tideshead."

* * * * *

Mr. Leicester did not wait to come back with the packet boat, but
appeared by the stage from the railway station in good season for
dinner. He was very hungry, and looked well satisfied with his morning's
w