better in the fortunes of the family. Mr. Winton's situation
furnished him with a comfortable income, and Edgar was now contributing
appreciably to the domestic funds, while Miss Winton's music-teaching
brought an acceptable addition beyond furnishing her with an ample
variety of dress, in which she always displayed a bold, though a
cultivated taste.

Their house was a great improvement on the little home in which Henry
had lodged six years ago, though it was still a poor substitute for the
luxurious residence Mr. Winton had maintained before his business
failure, when Flo and Edgar were children. The old horse-hair furniture
had disappeared from the dining-room, and in its place stood an elegant
leather suite. Henry would find the former still doing duty in a room
upstairs, which Edgar called his study. The drawing-room was the most
notable indication of changed fortunes, and bore many traces of Flo's
adorning hand, Edgar proudly drawing Henry's attention to some of her
paintings, and thus affording her excellent excuse for becoming blushes.

"Why, Henry, it is quite like old times to have you among us again,"
said Mrs. Winton, when he had entered the drawing-room.

She retained the right to his Christian name, although Flo, who had been
in the habit of addressing him familiarly at Wheelton, had surrendered
that, as Henry noticed, and was annoyed at himself for noticing. Mr.
Winton joined in the welcome, and Henry expressed his pleasure to be
among them again.

"I need not ask whether you had a good time while you were away," Mr.
Winton continued. "You are looking extremely well; brown as a berry."

"Quite like a gipsy," suggested Flo, and she decided at that moment that
she had always entertained a distinct preference for the Romany type of
manly beauty.

It was not altogether to her mind that the conversation swiftly drifted
into the uninteresting channels of public life in Laysford, touching
even the state of the hosiery trade, in which Mr. Winton was engaged. At
the tea-table, however, Flo had Henry by her side, and made the talking
pace with some spirit and, it must be granted, vivacity.

It is the most natural thing in the world for a young gentleman visitor
at a small family table like the Wintons' to be placed alongside the
daughter of the household, but there are young ladies who contrive to
make the most natural situation seem exceptional. Perhaps Miss Winton
was one of these, as Henry felt when he sat