e wants her to come," she thought with a pang of bitterness. "And I
was so happy only a moment ago. Oh, if I could only have him to myself a
little longer, I wouldn't care. I know that I could win him to like me
best if I only had a little longer. She will spoil everything." She gave
a little sob.

Dr. Raymond gave an impatient movement.

"Beatrice," he said, "I confess that I do not see why this should cause
you so much grief. It distresses me very much. You should remember that
you shared your cousin's home for many years. It is ungracious to
hesitate for a moment."

"They were well paid for their care of me," flashed Beatrice with
passionate anger. "And they never allowed me to come between them and
Adele. Aunt Annie said that it was natural and right that Adele should
be first in her own home, and I agreed with her. I gave up in everything
to her when I was there. Now, I want to be first in my home. It is not
right for her to come here when I haven't had you for so long. Adele
only cares to come because you admire her. It isn't at all because she
cares for me. And she ought not to leave her father! Oh! it isn't--it
isn't--" She burst into tears, unable to finish.

There followed a long silence eloquent with the grief of the daughter,
and the unspoken censure of the father. Beatrice felt his disapproval,
and she could not bear it. At length, feeling that even Adele's presence
could be borne better than his displeasure, she lifted her tear-stained
face, and said in a trembling voice:

"Bring her when you wish, father, but, but--" She could say no more.

"That is my own daughter," he exclaimed approvingly. "That was a real
victory over unworthy feelings, Beatrice. And there is no cause for any
jealousy toward your cousin. Remember that, and conquer whatever of ill
feeling toward her may lurk in your breast."

"Yes, father," said Bee, trying not to sob.

"I can not bear it," she told herself as she went finally to her room.
"He wants her to come. He loves her best after all. And I meant to be so
good, so good! But it's no use. No use!"

And so what had been a happy day closed with unpleasantness and she went
to bed feeling that all her good times with her father were ended.

Chapter XIV

A Little Sermon

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,--that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

--_Keats._

"I shall go to Henry's today, Beatrice," Doctor Raymond informed his
daughter t