out something, daughter?"

"Oh, no, I just wanted to talk."

Kate's heart thumped suddenly. It was a long time since the girl had
sought her out for one of their old confidential chats about nothing in
particular. She had been almost glad of the trouble about Jacqueline
because for the moment it had brought her close again to her other
child. The newly formed alliance was evidently to continue.

She said lightly, "Talk away, then!"

Jemima wandered about the room, examining this thing and that, without
attention. "You've never asked me a question about the visit to Mrs.
Lawton, nor why I came home sooner than I had expected to."

"I did not dare," admitted Kate, smiling a little. "I was afraid the
great experiment had not proved a success."

"Oh, but it was. A great success!--That is not why I came home so soon."

"Why, then?"

Jemima gave a most unexpected answer. "Because I was homesick."

Tears of pure pleasure came into Kate's eyes.

"You see, I'd never been away from home before, and I had no idea how
much I should miss you-all. But people were very kind to me; on
Professor Jim's account, I think."

"Dear old Jim!" said Kate, softly. "He deserves loyal friends, because
he knows so well how to be one.--I have missed him lately. When is he
coming home again?"

"To-day. He will be out to-morrow for supper, as usual."

"Oh, yes, it is Friday, isn't it? What an odd idea, that lecture
tour!--so unlike Jim. He has always been so shy and retiring. I wonder
what made him undertake it?"

"I did," said Jemima.

"You?"

"Why, yes. Some of his lectures seemed to me most unusual, much too good
to waste there in Lexington. So when the opportunity was offered to him
to speak in several other places, I persuaded him to accept it. We went
over the talks together and made them simpler; more popular, you know.
Sometimes he forgets that every audience is not composed of scholars."

Kate stared at her child in amused respect. "Do you mean to say you have
added literary censorship to your various other accomplishments?"

Jemima smiled deprecatingly. "I was glad to be able to help him a
little, after all he has done for us.--Look here, Mother,"--she began to
finger the papers on the desk--"do you care at all for Professor Jim?"

"Of course I do!"

"No--I don't mean that way. I mean--Are you ever going to marry him, do
you think?"

Kate's speechless surprise was sufficient answer.

"Because if you're not,"--the