ally to you who
are in the dangerous position of being threatened with large interests
to look after; and as for me, I shall consider this as one of the
pleasantest of my daily duties."

"You and father are so good to me." Alice held out her hand impulsively,
after grasping which Covington spread out the papers on the table
preparatory to the first lesson. The girl watched him, all eagerness,
then suddenly she laughed aloud and clapped her hands.

"Won't Allen be surprised when he hears that I've gotten my position
before he has his?"

"Allen?" queried Covington, looking up from his papers.

"Yes, Allen Sanford. Do you know him, Mr. Covington? He's a friend of
mine and I'm very much interested in him." Then she paused and her face
sobered. "Perhaps I ought to let him have this chance," she mused. "He
offered to share his chances with me."

"Do you mean Stephen Sanford's son?"

"Yes. Do you know him?"

Covington smiled, and for some unexplainable reason the girl did not
like his smile.

"We could hardly accept the substitution, Miss Alice. I understand that
the boy is erratic and irresponsible. His father has just disinherited
him."

"You don't mean it!" Alice cried, really concerned over this first news
of the result of Allen's interview with his father. "That must have been
yesterday. I wonder why daddy didn't tell me."

"Your father's mind is pretty full with his own affairs, Miss Alice,
without taking up Mr. Sanford's."

"But I must see Allen and help him--he will need my inspiration now more
than ever."

"Shall we begin on our first lesson?" Covington asked, watching the girl
carefully.

"Please do," she said. "I wonder if woman's part is to give inspiration
even after she is the manager of a business," she said aloud, but to
herself rather than to her companion.

"It is always woman's part to give inspiration," assented Covington.

"I must ask Eleanor," the girl said. "Please show me the papers, Mr.
Covington," she continued, turning to him with her mind at last centred
on the new proposition. "Your pupil is all attention."

* * * * *

Alice saw Allen just before he left for New York and also immediately
after his return, and the two interviews were interesting in their
diversity. In the first, Allen made light of the trouble between his
father and himself, and was so filled with confidence as to the results
of his approaching visit to the metropolis that the gi