he is far from strong,
and he will need care for a long time. I wonder if you know the
feeling I have about that? With Dr. Luttrell you cannot have had it.
You have never been anxious about him; and then he has always taken
care of you. But I shall always have to think for Alwyn."

"Oh, you are right there!"

"We shall think for each other," she went on, fearing that she had
admitted too much. "And there is one thing of which I am certain that
I shall have every right to be proud of him. Do you know what his
father says? that he has genius, unmistakable genius, and he is no mean
judge. 'Mark my words, he will be an R.A. yet;' he only said that to
me a few days ago."

"Marcus thinks the same; but, Greta, there is one thing: if you marry
Alwyn, you will have to take his father too; you can never separate
them."

"Those were Alwyn's very words," returned Greta, with a soft flush
which made her look years younger; "but, indeed, I love him already for
Alwyn's sake, and because he is so good to him. Oh, Olive dear, if you
knew the joy it will be to me to have someone for whom I can care
again. I do not want my life to be too easy or free from
responsibility; but I do want it to be real, actual life. Mrs.
Broderick and I were only talking about it yesterday. She says what
single women miss in their lives is some absorbing interest; a work
that shall fill up all the crannies."

"Oh, Aunt Madge is very strong on that point. I remember, before I
knew Marcus, that we had wonderful talks on this subject. She used to
be so fond of quoting Carmen Sylva's speech, 'A woman does not become a
mother, she is a mother from her birth. A woman's family satisfies her
vocation, but does not create it.' And she used to tell me to mother
my pupils. 'You must love them hard,' she would say, 'and live their
young lives as well as your own;' but, thank God, we can always find
objects for our love. I should make you laugh, Greta, if I told you
how I mapped out my future as an old maid; but I am quite sure I should
have made a good one."

Just then the door-bell rang, and Alwyn entered; he looked eager and
excited.

"Well, has she told you?" were his first words, as Olivia met him with
outstretched hands; and then, as she warmly congratulated him, his eyes
glowed with feeling. "I have not deserved such a prize, have I, Mrs.
Luttrell? but Greta has promised to make the best of me. Will you
forgive me if I take her away for