had evidently been one of her father's
loyal supporters, resenting what she must have seen at Storm. "I see! In
that case, Mother, I should like to do something for her. People who are
faithful to my father--"

There was an uncomfortable stir in the room.

"Mahaly has been given the cottage in which she lives, as a present from
you and little Katharine," interrupted Kate.

"I am glad of that," said the girl with a certain stateliness. "I was
going to say that people who are faithful to my father must never be
forgotten by his children."

"Nor by his wife," said Kate, with quiet dignity....

Despite the preoccupation of the wedding, Kate did not make the mistake
of neglecting Jacqueline's affairs. She had had her warning. Moreover,
though she would have denied it even to herself, the younger girl had
come to occupy a far larger share of her heart than had even been given
to the self-reliant Jemima. She had felt, lately (and the thought
frightened her) that in watching Jacqueline she was watching her own
youth over again. What possibilities lay in the girl's nature for
strength and weakness, for hot-headed folly, for sacrifice and passion
and unselfish service, she knew as do those who have been the victims of
such natures themselves. Jacqueline, if it were in human possibility to
compass it, should profit by her mother's bitter mistakes.

She redoubled her vigilance on learning that Channing had after all not
left the vicinity. Philip had passed him one day in one of Farwell's
machines, and hastened to report the encounter at Storm.

"Perhaps he has come back for your wedding," she said thoughtfully to
Thorpe.

The Professor's lips closed grimly. "He is not invited to my wedding. J.
Percival and I have, so to speak, severed diplomatic relations. Look out
for him, Kate!"

Philip, too, was not so certain as she that Channing was keeping to his
promise with regard to Jacqueline.

But the girl was under her mother's eye all day long, excited as Jemima
herself over the preparations, stitching with unwonted diligence on the
bridal finery, running errands, seeing visitors, happy and busy and
asking nothing better than to be with Kate or her sister whatever they
were about. It was a little touching to both, as if the madcap girl had
suddenly realized that the old companionship of home was about to be
broken up, and wanted to have as much of it as possible.

There was no hour in the full days when she might have seen