the alacrity of a young woman, and hurried to the
door. "Follow my example," she said to her daughter, on her way out.
"Lock up your jewel-box."

Linley drew a deep breath of relief when he was left alone with
his wife. "What makes your mother so particularly disagreeable this
morning?" he inquired.

"She doesn't approve, dear, of my leaving it to you to choose a
governess for Kitty."

"Where is Kitty?"

"Out on her pony for a ride over the hills. Why did you send a telegram,
Herbert, to prepare me for the governess? Did you really think I might
be jealous of Miss Westerfield?"

Linley burst out laughing. "No such idea entered my head," he answered.
"It isn't _in_ you, my dear, to be jealous."

Mrs. Linley was not quite satisfied with this view of her character. Her
husband's well-intended compliment reminded her that there are occasions
when any woman may be jealous, no matter how generous and how gentle she
may be. "We won't go quite so far as that," she said to him, "because--"
She stopped, unwilling to dwell too long on a delicate subject. He
jocosely finished the sentence for her. "Because we don't know what may
happen in the future?" he suggested; making another mistake by making a
joke.

Mrs. Linley returned to the subject of the governess.

"I don't at all say what my mother says," she resumed; "but was it
not just a little indiscreet to engage Miss Westerfield without any
references?"

"Unless I am utterly mistaken," Linley replied, "you would have been
quite as indiscreet, in my place. If you had seen the horrible woman who
persecuted and insulted her--"

His wife interrupted him. "How did all this happen, Herbert? Who first
introduced you to Miss Westerfield?"

Linley mentioned the advertisement, and described his interview with the
schoolmistress. Having next acknowledged that he had received a visit
from Miss Westerfield herself, he repeated all that she had been able
to tell him of her father's wasted life and melancholy end. Really
interested by this time, Mrs. Linley was eager for more information. Her
husband hesitated. "I would rather you heard the rest of it from Miss
Westerfield," he said, "in my absence."

"Why in your absence?"

"Because she can speak to you more freely, when I am not present. Hear
her tell her own story, and then let me know whether you think I have
made a mistake. I submit to your decision beforehand, whichever way it
may incline."

Mrs. Linley rewarded him w