ian Hazelton herself.

"One can judge so much better from hearing one converse. If her manner
should be very bad and her grammar execrable, I should consider it my
duty to withdraw my consent," she said, with as much deliberation as if
the matter were wholly at her disposal. "Would Katy drive around with
her to Marian Hazelton's to-morrow?"

Katy would be delighted; and so next day Mrs. Cameron, the elder, was
holding high her aristocratic skirts and glancing ruefully around as she
followed Mrs. Cameron, the younger, up the three flights of stairs to
Marian's door, which did not open to the assured knock, nor yet yield to
the gentle pressure. Marian was out, and there was no alternative but
for Katy to scribble a few lines upon the card she left upon the knob,
telling Marian who had been there, and requesting her to call that
evening at No. ---- Fifth Avenue, as the elder Mrs. Cameron was
particularly anxious to see her before committing her grandchild to her
care. "Please go, Marian, for my sake," Katy added, but in reading to
Wilford's mother what she had written, she omitted that, and so escaped
a lecture from that lady upon undue familiarity with inferiors.

CHAPTER XXVI.

HOW IT ENDED.

"Will Marian go to No. ---- Fifth Avenue?" Marian asked herself that
question many times, as with Katy's card in her hand she stood pondering
the subject and feeling glad of the good fortune which had sent her from
home when Wilford's mother called.

Yes, Marian would; and at the hour between the daylight and the dark,
just as the lamps are lighted in the street, and before they are usually
lighted in the parlors there was a ring at the door, whose massive plate
bore the name of Cameron, and the colored man who answered that ring
stared at the figure he ushered in, seating it in the dim hall and
asking for the name.

"Miss Hazelton wishes to see Mrs. Cameron," was the reply, and at the
sound of that musical, well-bred voice, the servant half opened the
parlor door, but closed it again as he went for his mistress, who
expressed her surprise that Marian Hazelton should presume to enter
where she did.

"Maybe she is a lady, mother; Katy raves about her continually," Bell
said; but with an air of incredulity at the lady part, Mrs. Cameron
swept haughtily down the broad staircase, the rustle of her heavy silk
sending a chill of fear through Marian's frame, but not affecting her so
much as did the voice; the cold, proud,