were brought up safely and happily, with good and loving
people----"

"The best in the world!" Norma said, through her teeth, fighting tears.

"The best in the world. Why, Norma, what a woman they've made you!
You--who stand alone among all the girls I know! And then," Chris
continued quickly, seeing her a little quieter, "when you are growing
up, your aunt brings you to your grandmother, who immediately turns her
whole world topsy-turvy to make you welcome! Is there anything so unfair
in that? Annie made a terrible mistake, dear----"

"And everyone but Annie pays!" Norma interrupted, bitterly.

"Norma, she is your mother!" Chris reminded her, in the tone that,
coming from him, always instantly affected her. Her eyes fell, and her
tone, when she spoke, was softer.

"Just bearing a child isn't all motherhood," she said.

"No, my dear; I know. And if Annie were ever to guess this, it isn't
like her not to face the music, at any cost. But isn't it better as it
is, Norma?"

The wonderful tone, the wonderful manner, the kindness and sympathy in
his eyes! Norma, with one foot on the lowest step, now raised her eyes
to his with a sort of childish penitence.

"Oh, yes, Chris! But"--her lips trembled--"but if Aunt Kate had only
kept me from knowing for ever!" she faltered.

"She wouldn't take that responsibility, dear, and one can't blame her. A
comfortable inheritance comes from your grandmother; it isn't the
enormous fortune Leslie inherited, of course, but it is all you would
have had, even had Annie brought you home openly as her daughter. It is
enough to make a very pretty wedding-portion for me to give away with
you, my dear, in a few years," Chris added more lightly. The suggestion
made her face flame again.

"Who would marry me?" she said, under her breath, with a scornful look,
under half-lowered lids, into space.

For answer he gave her an odd glance--one that lived in her memory for
many and many a day.

"Ah, Norma--Norma--Norma!" he said--quickly, half laughingly. Then his
expression changed, and his smile died away. "I have something to bear,"
he said, with a glance upward toward Alice's windows. "Life isn't roses,
roses, all the way for any one of us, my dear! Now, you've got a bad bit
of the road ahead. But let's be good sports, Norma. And come in now,
I'm famished; let's have breakfast. My honour is in your hands," he
added, more gravely, "perhaps I had no right to tell you all this! You
mustn't b