but at night, when the trees were touched by the
mysterious light, it had an aspect of romance.

In silence she sat before the glass, while Bennet's dexterous fingers
unbraided the silky hair and brushed it before coiling it up for the
night. Looking at the face reflected in the glass, she perceived that it
was not quite so tranquil as usual, and was irritated at finding that
Mrs. Tell's words had disturbed her. Why was she disturbed? Her vanity
had taken a chill, that was all.

"I am vainer than I thought myself," she mused. "All women are vain, of
course. It is not a very bad fault, but it makes one little in one's own
sight." Then came other ideas, crowding fast into her brain. "What does
Olivia know? She is not a clever woman. How can she tell what a man
means to do? Away down there in Rushbrook he will be put to the test. I
am always at my best in the country; the air freshens me, and the
quietness rests me. And my dresses are lovely--on that ground I stand
alone."

Yet, in spite of this comforting conclusion, Katherine was restless
under Bennet's hands, and glad to be left in solitude.

On the following afternoon, Elsie, dreaming over her solitary cup and
saucer, was startled when her parlour door opened. Mrs. Verdon, bland
and smiling, came in, followed by Jamie. The boy lifted his blue eyes
solemnly to Elsie's face, and something he saw there curved his lips
into a smile and brought a dimple into his beautiful cheeks. As usual,
he wore his sailor-suit, and this time he accepted Elsie's kiss with
perfect graciousness.

"We must know each other better," said Mrs. Verdon, really touched by
Elsie's feeling for the child. She talked on, pleasantly and fluently.
It was evidently her fancy to make much of Miss Kilner and take
possession of her.

Elsie accepted the invitation to dinner, partly because Mrs. Verdon was
really a very pleasant person, but chiefly because her heart still clung
to Jamie. On her arrival she was taken up to the top of the great house,
and shown the two spacious rooms which were his own.

"I does as I like up here," said Jamie grandly (grammar was occasionally
forgotten). "Mammy never 'feres with me." Elsie followed him when he led
the way through the door which opened into the night nursery. The first
object which attracted her gaze was the statuette on the bracket over
the bed. Jamie at once introduced the figure as his guardian angel. "I
am never afraid at nights," the little fellow s