s for the work, which would go on even after she had left for
the Mountain House, as she intended doing the last of June. And Marian,
reading this note, guessed at more than Katy meant she should, and with
a bitter sigh laid it in her basket, and then resumed the work, which
seemed doubly monotonous now that there was no more listening for the
little feet tripping up the stairs, or for the bird-like voice which had
brought so much of music and sunshine to her lonely room.

CHAPTER XIX.

SARATOGA AND NEWPORT.

For three weeks Katy had been at the Mountain House, growing stronger
every day, until now she was much like the Katy of one year ago, and
Wilford was very proud of her, as he saw how greatly she was admired by
those whose admiration he deemed worth having. But their stay among the
Catskills was ended, and on the morrow they were going to Saratoga,
where Mrs. Cameron and her daughter were, and where, too, was Sybil
Grandon, the reigning belle of the United States. So Bell had written to
her brother, bidding him hasten on with Katy, as she wished to see "that
chit of a widow in her proper place." And Katy had been weak enough for
a moment to feel a throb of satisfaction in knowing how effectually
Sybil's claims to belleship would be put aside when she was once in the
field; even glancing at herself in the mirror as she leaned on Wilford's
shoulder, and feeling glad that mountain air and mountain exercise had
brought the roses back to her white cheeks and the brightness to her
eyes. But Katy wept passionate tears of repentance for that weakness,
when an hour later she read the letter which Dr. Grant had sent in
answer to one she had written from the Mountain House, and in which she
had told him much of her life in New York, confessing her shortcomings,
and lamenting that the evils and excesses which shocked her once did not
startle her now. To this letter Morris had replied as a brother might
write to an only sister, first expressing his joy at her happiness, and
then coming to the subject which lay nearest his heart, warning her
against temptation, reminding her of that other life to which this is
only a preparation, and beseeching her so to use the good things of this
world, given her in such profusion, as not to lose the life eternal.

This was the substance of Morris' letter, which Katy read with
streaming eyes, forgetting Saratoga as Morris' solemn words of warning
and admonition rang in her ears, and