tending his hand to Mrs. Curtis, said: "Pray, pardon my
interference. I was prompted to speak merely in your interest. I trust I
shall see you again in the near future. Good night." He bowed coldly to
the young women and took his departure.

"What a disagreeable----" Madge stopped abruptly. Her face flushed. "I
beg your pardon, Mrs. Curtis," she said contritely. "I shouldn't have
spoken my mind aloud."

"I forgive you, my dear," there was a slight tone of constraint in Mrs.
Curtis's voice, "but I am sure if you knew Mr. Holt as I do you would
have an entirely different opinion of him."

"Perhaps I should," returned Madge politely, but in her heart she knew
that she and Philip Holt were destined not to be friends, but bitter
enemies.

CHAPTER V

TANIA, A PROBLEM

"Don't you think it would be a splendid plan for Tania?" asked Madge
eagerly. "Miss Jenny Ann and the girls are willing she should come to us.
Tania is such a fascinating little person, with her dreams and her
pretences, that she is the best kind of company. Besides, I am awfully
sorry for her."

Mrs. Curtis and Madge were seated in the latter's bedroom indulging in
one of their old-time confidential talks.

"Tania would be a great deal of care for you, Madge," argued Mrs. Curtis.
"She is worrying my maids almost distracted with her foolishness. Last
night she wrapped herself in a sheet and frightened poor Norah almost to
death by dancing in the moonlight. She explained to Norah that she was
pretending that she was a moonflower swaying in the wind. I wonder where
the child got such odd fancies and bits of information? She has never
seen a moonflower in her life." Mrs. Curtis laughed and frowned at the
same time. "Poor little daughter of the tenements! She is indeed a
problem."

"Shall I tell you all I have been able to find out about Tania?" asked
Madge. "Her history is quite like a story-book tale. I think her father
and mother were actors, but the father died when Tania was only a little
baby. That is why, I suppose, they called the child by such an absurd
name as 'Titania.' I looked it up and it comes from Shakespeare's play of
'Midsummer Night's Dream.' I think perhaps her mother was just a dancer,
or had only a small part in the plays in which she appeared, for they
never had any money. Tania has lived in a tenement always. The mother
used to take care of her baby when she could, and then leave her to the
neighbors. But the mother must h