citement in the speaker's manner which
Dunham found rather touching.

"Don't pretend to me that you ever have doubtful moments," he said,
regarding the alert face with curiosity as to how it had appeared in
those days when Judge Trent had wanted "just that one girl."

"My!" exclaimed Miss Lacey. "I'm having a doubtful moment right now;
not one, but dozens! I'm on the most ticklish errand of my life. That's
what I called on Judge Trent about the other day."

"That's right," commented Dunham gravely. "Never move without legal
advice."

"And if I'd had any idea I was going to meet _you_, I'd have brought
your handkerchief. I've done it up as smooth as satin."

"How good of you!"

"And it's pretty near as fine as satin, too; and that worked monogram
is a beauty; but it's lucky you're a lawyer, for it would take one to
figure out what the letters are;--but you needn't tell your sweetheart
I said so."

Dunham laughed. "I won't. It would break her heart."

"Don't you ever wipe off chairs with it again. It's wicked," declared
Miss Lacey emphatically.

"Then don't you ever come into the office and give me heart failure by
your unkind comments."

"I don't know as I ever shall," returned Miss Lacey, suddenly pensive
and looking into space. "The other day I was clear out of Judge Trent's
office and into the street, and it was too late to go back, before I
realized that I'd scarcely got three words from him that were really
definite or any use to me. Has he mentioned to you anything about a
niece of his who has come to Boston? I suppose he hasn't."

"Yes, he has."

"Indeed? Well, she's mine, too, and this minute I'm on my way to see
her." Miss Lacey made the declaration impressively. "He ought to be
here himself. But I won't shirk my duty if he does his. She's come
clear from Illinois, and I don't know what for. I wish I was like some
folks and could let her shift for herself; but she isn't twenty yet,
and I haven't got the heart. I haven't been smart, I saw that
afterward; for if I'd gone to Judge Trent and just said I was too poor
to do anything for Sylvia and stuck to it, and carried matters with a
high hand and told him I wasn't going near her, he'd have had to. I see
that as plain as day now, but he came at me with the good news about my
money, and kind of sidled me toward the door, and while I was gasping
and trying to realize it, the first thing I knew I was downstairs."

Dunham received her injured look with