care and love of one who had a father's sanction
to call her wife. And finally threats were tried to induce her to use
her influence to reconcile the family to the first plan proposed; for
Mr. William Burton solemnly declared that, if the daughter of his
brother disgraced the family by becoming "a milliner's girl," he would
disown her, and his children should never recognize her again.

This was a great trial, but a harder one had been borne, and Lucy found
a friend to uphold her in her course when she was sorely tempted to
abandon it. Dr. Howard had been for many years their family physician,
and had watched her from earliest childhood with no little interest. His
daughter Mary was Lucy's most intimate friend, and through her he heard
of all that was passing in the family of his deceased friend. His little
carriage was standing at the door as Mr. Burton left the house, the
morning of the last interview, and Lucy, still sitting in the parlor,
her head upon her hands, lost in deep and painful thought, was roused by
his kindly voice and fatherly manner, to be comforted by his sympathy
and strengthened by his approval.

"I know all, my little daughter," said the warm-hearted old gentleman.
"As for that James Allan, you've had a lucky escape, and I'd willingly
see him"--

"Doctor!" interrupted Lucy, for she could not hear that once loved name
spoken of so harshly.

"Well, well, I suppose you were fond of him, or you never could have
promised what you did. But we won't think of that part of the subject.
Now tell me exactly what you want to do, and then we will see if there's
a possibility of accomplishing it."

So Lucy unfolded her plans more fully than she had yet done to any one.
Their milliner was a widow lady who had under her direction one of those
large work-rooms employing twenty or thirty girls. Her customers were
among the wealthiest and most fashionable people in the city, and, as
she was very intelligent and a person of excellent taste, they
frequently consulted her about an entire wardrobe, and in this way Lucy
had often listened to her conversation. Only one month ago, her mother
and herself were taking Mrs. Hill's advice with regard to her own
_trousseau_, a part of which was already purchased; and while Lucy was
waiting for her mother to call for her, she had been much interested in
a history of Mrs. Hill's own business experience, resulting from a
report that she was thinking of retiring before long. Luc