per understanding of the situation. Miss
Abby and Miss Belinda were two maiden ladies, sisters of Mrs. Fairchild
and Ona's mother, who on the death of the former took up their abode in
the little cottage for the purpose of bringing up the orphan Paula. They
had succeeded in this by dint of the utmost industry, but Paula was not
a common child, and Belinda, who was evidently the autocrat of the
house, had decided that she ought to have other advantages. She had
therefore written to Mrs. Sylvester concerning the child, in the hopes
that that lady would take enough interest in her pretty little cousin to
send her to boarding-school; but they had received no reply till now,
all of which was perfectly right of course, Mrs. Sylvester being
undoubtedly occupied and Mr. Sylvester himself being better than any
letter.

"And does Paula herself know what efforts you have been making in her
behalf," asked Mr. Sylvester upon the receipt of this information.

The little lady shook her head with vivacity. "Belinda advised me to say
nothing," she remarked. "The child is contented with her home and we did
not like to raise her expectations. You will never regret anything you
may do for her," she went on in a hurried way with a peep now and then
towards the door as if while enjoying a momentary freedom of speech, she
feared an intrusion that would cut that pleasure short. "Paula is a
grateful child and never has given us a moment of concern from the time
she began to put pieces of patchwork together. But there is Belinda,"
she suddenly exclaimed, rising with the little dip and jerk of her left
shoulder that was habitual to her whenever she was amused or excited.
"Belinda," she cried, going to the door and speaking with great
impressiveness, "Mr. Sylvester is in the parlor." And almost instantly a
tall middle aged lady entered, whose plain but powerful countenance and
dignified demeanor, stamped her at once as belonging to a very different
type of woman from her sister.

"I am very glad to see you sir," she exclaimed in a slow determined
voice as dissimilar as possible from the piping tones of Miss Abby. "Is
not Mrs. Sylvester with you?"

"No," returned he, "I have come alone; my wife is not fond of travelling
in winter."

The slightest gleam shot from her bright keen eye. "Is she not well?"

"Yes quite well, but not over strong," he rejoined quietly.

She gave him another quick look, settled some matter with herself and
taking of