A Girl in Ten Thousand

the oven, and Mrs. Staunton

ght to her personal appearance. Like many other women of the middle class, she had s

strayed gently in another. She did not mind whether her dress was cut according to the mode or not-she scarcely looked at her faded but still pretty face. Now and then this

rs. Staunton made a care

e put the dress on, and fastened soft lace ruffles round her throat and at her wrists. The dress transformed her. It toned with all her faded charms. She put a real

tly, and started whe

t you look!" She went over and kissed her. Mr

e'd like us all to look nice to-night. Go upstairs, Effie, dear, and put on y

the room at this moment, s

a party?" she asked,

your father h

and crossed her legs. "I want to read over my lecture for the Hi

n your Sunday frock, and tell Katie to do the same, and ask Susan to put t

self out of the

d again at

ly to herself, and looking out at the garden

Staunton was still sitting by the window. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were unusually bright. She looked twenty years younger than she had done t

ort of meal-yes, quite simple and very wholesome. Very homelike, that's the word. Effie, there never was such a homelike sort of man as your father. Give him home and you f

nice dress, mother-he is so proud

ray when she sat in the porch on summer evenings. Yes, this dress is like a piece of old lavender-it reminds me of the past, of the sunny, happy past. I have had such a happy life, Effie-never a cross word said, never a dour look given me. Love has surrounded me from the moment of my marriage until now. I feel young to-night, and I am going to be happy, very happy. The children must look their best

ourself, mothe

r than I do to-night. I'd

d them in a brown jug, and stood the jug on the table. Then she opened both windows wide, and left the door ajar. The

unday frocks. They looked puzzled, uncomforta

ther? Are any visi

turn. "It is only your father who has come home,

last of the children, Dr.

y laid out supper table-the children in their best dresses-the old wife in he

up hastily-a sort of shudder went through him. In

ll the other eyes looked back at him-he knew perfectly well even before

mother says we are to look our

ust excuse me, good folk. I am bound in duty to do honor to all this compan

etch the coffee,"

ories-they were capped by his wife's. Effie laughed as if she had never

rden at the back of the house. He drew his arm round her waist, and they wa

coming disaster. The foreboding which filled her could not be fought down. She had laughed almost against her will at supper-time, but now she ce

lling about. She turned,

ger children's hour for staying up? Can't you make yo

little Phil and Walter, the brother next in age. "Agnes

, coloring high. "Won't I give it to you

le Phil, running up to his elder sister, and

ill spoil my pretty

a minute. It seemed to him as if a castle of cards had tumbled all over his head, and as if he stood in the middle of the ruins. If Effie were going to turn n

ee that she has a headache? We'll be very goo

m in front of her. "You must be quick about it, for I have no

dren dis

a glimpse of her father and mother walking up and down in the garden. Presently the two approached

red to-night, Effie," h

st where he could smell the sw

had marked him at supper. His face was gray and worn-his voice decidedly husky. That huskiness in h

etter go upstairs and help

plied Effie. "I want to sit by you.

hroat

re so

er about my throat, it will be all right after I have had a good night's rest. I tell you, Effie, I n

said Effie, with a little note of triumph coming

of God's angels and I say 'God bless her

ted back the moment she did so. The evening was a very hot

urn!" she

etely worn-out, shaken, and all that sort of thing. Now, Effie, don't inter

urse,

at you ought to make more of your life than you can make of it staying at ho

nging into her eyes. "I did long for it, but I'll give it u

. I never saw any woman so altered for the time being. She would not let me imagine there was a thing the matter with her, and she spoke all the tim

have never deni

d what was for your

breast. She flung her arms round

, Effie, let me say a word or two to you. I don't know what the future has in it-it is impossible for any of us to know the future, and I say, thank God for the blessed curtain which hides it from our view; but whatever it has in it, my child, I wish you to understand that you are to do your best with your life. Make it full if you can-in any case make it blessed. A month ago, I will admit fran

led her eyes. "What a grand tri

hen she goes,-if that is what is now at the bottom of your heart,-go, child, with my blessing. W

ever were tha

t present that weakness springs from no organic source, but of late there have been symptoms which make me fear that the functional mischief may be developed into the more serious

bowed his head on his hands, and a

er," said Effie. "She shall not ha

best," said the doctor;

f it is to injure her-t

u. Your mother could not live through an anxiet

t come,"

come," said the doct

uddenly t

By the way, Effie, you know, of course, that my life is insured for a thousand pounds.

ld not talk abo

h that each man should arrange all he can for the future of his family. Arranging for the future never hastens

om-his broad back was

il his gray head was lost to view. Then she went back and sat on

father. The fact is, no girl ever had better parents than I have; and the wonderful thing is that they give me leave to go, and take their blessing with me. It is wonderful-it is splendid. Agnes must be taught to do my present work. I'll train her for the next three months; and then, per