you?"

Bee compressed her lips, and her eyes flashed.

"Yes," she said in a low tone, "and I'll never forgive her. Never!"

"Wait a minute, dear. It was not a nice thing, nor a kind thing for her
to do, though I think it must have been pure girlish mischief. However,
we are not concerned with that part of it. Beatrice, when would your
father have come home had he not received the picture?"

"Why! not for two more years," cried Bee, a startled look flashing
across her face.

"Exactly. Then if the exchange had not been made you would not have had
the pleasure of your father's company at all this summer, would you?"

"N-no."

"Would you rather have him here now, even though such a mistake has been
made, than to wait two years longer to see him?"

"Yes, yes, yes," cried Bee with intensity. "Oh, I don't see now how I
could have borne to wait longer."

"Then, my dear, how about that feeling toward your cousin? Good has come
out of it, no matter how she meant it. If you will think of that part of
it, it will help you to feel toward her as you used to do, and you must
do that, my child, for your own sake. Now whenever any hard thought of
her comes, just think that she brought him back to you. It won't be easy
at first, my dear, but you can do it. We will let that be, and pass on
to other things. The case interests me very much, and I would like you
to be so successful in winning his love that there would be no one of
whom he would be so fond. Perhaps I can help you."

"If you will, I will do anything in the world for you," cried the girl
earnestly.

"I am satisfied that it can be done, Beatrice. You were on the way to
its accomplishment already. Your cousin's coming may make a slight
difference for a time, but it will only be temporary. You yourself are
liable to spoil everything."

"I?" Beatrice looked her surprise.

"Yes; you will see as I talk. Now, Beatrice, answer me one question: in
your studies you have always been first, have you not?"

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Never mind about that. Which did you enjoy most: gaining a high mark
without any competition, or getting one when others were striving for it
too?"

"I liked best when I had to work hard to get ahead of others."

"I thought so. Look at this from the same standpoint. Gain your father's
love in spite of your cousin's beauty, and his admiration for her. It
will be a greater triumph than to gain it when she is not with you."

"Yes; it would,"