The idea of a father having the sole care of a daughter up to her
twenty-first birthday, and then delivering her, like a piece of joint
property, over to her mother! Oh, I know that according to their lights
it did not seem absurd, but the very idea of it is contrary to nature.
Of course we all know that your father was peculiarly fitted to
undertake your training, and in this way your mother could more easily
indulge her love of society; but as it is, no wonder she is as jealous
of your success in her realm as your father was in his; no wonder she
overdoes things to make up for lost time. How do you like it, Ruth?"

"What?" softly inquired her cousin, slowly waving the dainty fan, while
a smile lighted up the gravity of her face at this onslaught.

"Going out continually night after night."

"Mamma likes it."

"Cela va sans dire. But, Ruth,--stop fanning a minute, please,--I want
to know, candidly and seriously, would you mind giving it up?"

"Candidly and seriously, I would do so to-day forever."

"Ye-es; your father's daughter," said Mrs. Lewis, speaking more slowly,
her bright eyes noting the perfect repose of the young girl's person;
"and yet you are having some quiet little conquests,--the golden apples
of your mother's Utopia. But to come to the point, do you realize that
your mother is very ill?"

"Ill--my mother?" The sudden look of consternation that scattered the
soft tranquillity of her face must have fully repaid Mrs. Lewis if she
was aiming at a sensation.

"There, sit down. Don't be alarmed; you know she is out and apparently
well."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Aunt Esther is nervous and hysterical. The other day at our
house she had such an attack of hysteria that I was obliged to call in
a neighboring doctor. She begged us not to mention it to either of
you, and then insisted on attending a meeting of some sort. However, I
thought it over and decided to let you know, as I consider it serious. I
was afraid to alarm Uncle, so I thought of telling you."

"Thank you, Jennie; I shall speak to Father about it." The young girl's
tone was quite unagitated; but two pink spots on her usually colorless
cheeks betrayed her emotion.

"That is right, dear. I hope you will forgive me if I seem meddlesome,
but Jo and I have noticed it for some time; and your father, by allowing
this continual gayety, seems to have overlooked what we find so sadly
apparent. Of course you have an engagement for to-ni