age, thereby exciting much comment among
her friends. Every one suspected that Edith could not reconcile herself
to the coming of her step-mother.

The day of the tournament arrived. Before Mr. Franklin went to Boston
that morning he called Edith into the library and closed the door.

"I have something to say to you, Edith. I have been perfectly observant
of your conduct since I came home, though I have not spoken of it
before. I preferred to wait, to give you a chance to think better of it.
Your treatment of my wife is not only rude, it is unkind, as rudeness
always is."

"Father, I haven't been rude. Why do you speak to me so? It is all her
fault. She has made you do it."

"Hester has not mentioned the subject to me, Edith. You are most unjust.
You are making yourself very conspicuous, and are placing me in a very
false light by your behavior. Are you going to the tennis tournament
to-day?"

"Yes, papa."

"How do you intend to get there?"

"Drive myself in the buggy, of course."

"There is no 'of course' about it," said her father, growing more and
more angry. "If you go, you will go as the others do, in the surrey. I
will not have them go down with an empty seat, while you rattle in to
the grounds in the old buggy in the eyes of all Brenton."

"Then I won't go at all. The buggy was good enough before; why isn't it
now?"

"Not another word! I am ashamed of you, Edith, and disappointed. I have
no time for more, but remember what I have said. You go in the surrey to
the tournament, or you stay at home."

He left her and hurried off to the train. Edith went to her own room and
shut herself in. For more than an hour a bitter fight raged within her.
Her pride was up in arms.

If she gave up and drove to the club in the surrey, every one would know
that she was countenancing her step-mother, as she expressed it, and she
had told Gertrude Morgan that she would never do it. If she staid at
home, she would excite more comment still, for it was generally known
that she was to act as one of the hostesses, and she had no reasonable
excuse to offer for staying away.

Altogether Edith thought herself a much-abused person, and she cried
until her eyes were swollen, her cheeks pale, and her nose red.

Cynthia burst in upon her.

"What is the matter, Edith? You look like a perfect fright! Are you
ill?"

"Ill! No, of course not. I wish you would leave me in peace, Cynthia.
What do you want?"

"To come into my ow