ins, aren't we?"

Iris sat down on the bench beside him, evidently struck by a new idea.
"I hadn't thought of it," she said conversationally. "Are we?"

"I think we are. Mother is Aunt Peace's nephew, isn't she?"

"Not that anybody knows of. A lady nephew is called a niece in East
Lancaster."

"Oh, well," replied Lynn, colouring, "you know what I mean. Mother is
Aunt Peace's niece, isn't she?"

"I hear so. A gentleman for whom I have much respect assures me of it."
The wicked light in her eyes belied her words, and Lynn wished that he
had kissed her twice while he had the opportunity.

"It's the truth," he said. "And mother's my mother."

"Really?"

"So that makes me Aunt Peace's nephew."

"Grand-nephew," corrected Iris, with double meaning.

"Thank you for the compliment. Perhaps I'm a nephew-once-removed."

"I haven't seen any signs of removal," observed Iris, "but I'd love to."

"Don't be so frivolous! If I am Aunt Peace's nephew, what relation am I
to her daughter?"

"Legal daughter," Iris suggested.

"Legal daughter is just as good as any other kind of a daughter. That
makes me your cousin."

"Legal cousin," explained Iris, "but not moral."

"It's all the same, even in East Lancaster. I'm your legal
cousin-once-removed."

"Grand-legal-cousin-once-removed," repeated Iris, parrot-like, with her
eyes fixed upon a distant robin.

"That's just the same as a plain cousin."

"You're plain enough to be a plain cousin," she observed, and the colour
deepened upon Lynn's handsome face.

"So I'm going to kiss you again."

"You're not," she said, with an air of finality. She flew into the house
and took refuge beside Mrs. Irving.

"Mother," cried Lynn, closely following, "isn't Iris my cousin?"

"No, dear; she's no relation at all."

"So now!" exclaimed Iris, in triumph. "Grand-legal-cousin-once-removed,
you will please make your escape immediately."

"Little witch!" thought Lynn, as he went upstairs; "I'll see that she
doesn't slap me next time."

"Iris," said Mrs. Irving, suddenly, "you are very beautiful."

"Am I, really?" For a moment the girl's deep eyes were filled with
wonder, and then she smiled. "It is because you love me," she said,
dropping a tiny kiss upon Margaret's white forehead; "and because I love
you, I think you are beautiful, too."

Alone in her room, Iris studied herself in her small mirror. It was just
large enough to see one's face in, for Aunt Peace did not believe in