en upon everything. There were no longer
Percival and his mother to visit, and while Doctor Raymond continued to
walk with her and Adele he seemed to withdraw more and more into his own
pursuits. The evenings were still devoted to music, but here Adele was
pre-eminent. Bee, however, retained her place in the management of the
household, jealously guarding the privilege of looking after her
father's comfort. Remembering that he had spoken of her attention to
neatness she became punctilious in her dress, and about the appointments
of the house. Her character was deepening and developing; and from a
merry-hearted, careless maiden she was growing into a thoughtful and
broad-minded girl.

"Adele," she said one morning rather sharply to her cousin who dawdled
on the couch with a book and a box of chocolates, "have you been down to
Rachel's today?"

"No," yawned Adele. "I haven't."

"Aren't you ready to go? The basket is fixed, and it is nearly eleven
o'clock. If we go for a walk with father after lunch there will be no
other time. You ought to go now."

"There's no hurry," protested Adele. "Do you know, Bee, I don't think it
is necessary to go every day?"

"It does not matter what you think, Adele. Father said to do it." Bee's
manner showed plainly that in her opinion that left nothing further to
be said.

"I'll manage Uncle William," remarked Adele with a conscious little
laugh, but nevertheless she rose from her reclining position. "It's a
perfect nuisance."

"I'll go. It is my place to do it after all. I should have gone long
ago, but I thought that you liked to do it."

"Well," hesitated Adele, "I promised Uncle William, you know, and the
old woman likes me to come. You need not go, Bee. I'll do it myself."

She took the basket of food from Bee's hand, and left the room. Bee saw
her go out the gate walking very slowly.

"She doesn't like to go for some reason," mused the girl. "I must take
it upon myself to go down every morning. I must find the time somehow.
Oh, dear!" She gave an impatient shake to her shoulders.

Just as the mid-day meal was placed upon the table Adele returned,
looking cool and as daintily immaculate as though she had not been out
of the house.

"How you must have hurried," cried Bee. "Did you run every step of the
way?"

"Not every step, Bee. How warm you look!"

"It is more than you do," answered Bee looking at her with wonder.
"You've been out in the hot sun yet you seem as cool