circled her neck, and was fastened by a small gold pin, which,
with the exception of the costly diamond ring on her finger, was the
only ornament she wore.

When supper was ready I proudly led her to the dining-room, casting a
look of triumph at Juliet and Anna, and feeling, it may be, a _trifle_
above grandmother, who said, "Don't be troublesome, child."

How grateful I was when Emma answered for me, "She doesn't trouble me
in the least; I am very fond of children."

Indeed, she seemed to be very fond of everybody and everything--all
except Sally's Dutch cheese, which, as I expected, she hardly
relished. In less than three days she was beloved by all the
household, Billy whispering to me confidentially that "never before
had he seen any one except _mother_, whom he would like to marry."

Saturday afternoon Carrie and Agnes called on Emma, and as I saw them
together I fancied I had never looked on three more charming faces.
They appeared mutually pleased with each other, too, although for some
reason there seemed to be more affinity between Emma and Agnes. Carrie
appeared thoughtful and absent-minded, which made Anna joke her about
her "lover, Penoyer." As she was about leaving the room she made no
reply, but after she was gone Agnes looked searchingly at Anna and
said:

"Is it possible, Miss Anna, that you are so mistaken?"

"How--why?" asked Emma. "Is Penoyer a bad man? What is his
occupation?"

"His occupation is well enough," returned Agnes. "I would not think
less of him for that, were he right in other respects. However, he was
Carrie's and my own music teacher."

"Impossible," said Anna, but at that moment Carrie reentered the room,
and, together with Agnes, soon took her leave.

"Penoyer a music teacher, after all his anger at Lily Gordon for
suggesting such an idea!" This was now the theme of Juliet and Anna,
although they wondered what there was so _bad_ about him--something,
evidently, from Agnes' manner, and for many days they puzzled their
brains in vain to solve the mystery.

CHAPTER V.

RICHARD EVELYN AND HARLEY ASHMORE.

Emma had not long been with us ere her fame reached the little
"village over the river," and drew from thence many calls, both from
gentlemen and ladies. Among these was a Mr. Richard Evelyn and his
sister, both of whom had the honor of standing on the topmost round of
the aristocratic ladder in the village. Mr. Evelyn, who was nearly
thirty years of age, was a we