The Poor Little Rich Girl

when Gwendolyn returned from her drive, and a half-dozen silk-shaded lights threw a soft glow over the room. To shut

aped ruffles of lace and chiffon. It made conspicuous two packages that flanked it-one small and square

e spied them; and sprang forward. "Oh, I wonde

usiasm. The glass-fronted case was full of toys, none of which she particularly cherished. (I

queried Jane, catching up the

denly looked

whole world

ped the small package

the gray eyes had a tender faraway expression. There was a faint conventional pattern in the brocade of the heavy hangings. It suggested trees with gracefu

lared warmly. "For you know right well that Thomas and I wouldn't like to leave th

ly not," s

" (Jane and Miss Royle might contend with eac

t Johnnie Blake's that once, just Potter went, and Rosa, and

s well as me," interr

resumed Gwendolyn, ignoring the remark; "a

cried Jane. "Mr. Potter never

"I tell you, a certain person is gr

nonsense out of your head," she commanded. "Folks that liv

t pokey," she denied. "He had a willow fishpole, and a string t

told me. He's a common, poor little boy. And"-severely-"I, fo

d what your presents are. Guess something that's real fine: something you'd

y. Well,"-suddenly between her brows there came

large, round box was disclose

pa!" cried Jane. "Oh,

ight after clouds, and shadow. Then there poured fort

my moth-er," she declared; "and I don't want to have a nu

reddened even to his ears, which were large and over-prominent. To both, th

after a moment. "So me and Thomas are

e reminded. "And you and Thomas wouldn't have to work any more; you

he warned in a low voice, "and let a cert

le will, too." Whereupon, with a forced change to gayety, and a toss

h, for as many lady dolls: There were six prancing Arab steeds-bay and chestnut and dappled gray-for an equal number of men. A small handle turned to wi

ng seat of a white-and-gold chair (a position at other times strictly forbidden). "And

onsiderations moved temporarily into the b

ckage. "This is the Madam's present," he

e. This was a rabbit's head. And when Thomas had turned a key in the base of the cabbage, the rabbit gave a sudden hop, lifted a pai

or each was glowing as yellowly as the tiny electric

want!" exclaimed Thomas. "It's as

rewell, popped back into the cabbage

d I'm going to ask fath-er and

h she began to exclaim excitedly over the rabbit, while he wound up the merry-go-round. Then the ruby seats an

at the head of Gwendolyn's bed. Jane answered the summons, and received the message,-a brief

g annoyed. Gwendolyn saw the merry-go-round-cabbage and all-disappear into the large, round box without a trace of regret. So much ill-fe

ps at the dinner-hour. On such occasions she saw one, though more often both, of he

d the tall lamp. There she ate all her meals, in the condescending company of Miss R

nd concealed her eagerness by snapping her unde

eating alone-alone, that is, except for Thomas, who preserved a complete and stony silence. Miss Royle had not

bed. Still in a very bad humor, and touched up smartly by a fresh cap and a dainty apron, the nurs

rs: She hoped-with a throb in her throat that was like the beat of a heart-that the supper just past was only afternoon te

enough," answer

n her for two whole days-not since she was six. "Wonde

re the guest chambers, past the library floor, which was where her mother and father lived, to the second floor of the great house. Her

or the nurse was holding herself erect and proper-shoulders back, chin in, heels together. Gwen

w forced itself uppermost. The gra

down, "put your best foot forward." Her f

d Gwendolyn back, "wh

shake. "Hush your rubbishy questions," she commanded

th so little time for reflecting, she could not decide wh

er, white-haired, grave and bent, stepped asid

and crystal, bright with silver and roses, and lighted by clusters of silk-shaded candles that reflected themselves upon circular table mirrors. At the far end of the table sat Gwendolyn's father, pale in his black dress-clothes, and

ance; her second had swept the whole length of the board to her father's face. And now, w

e was

fume that was a very part of her mother's charm and beauty) she halted; and curtsied-precisely as Monsieur Tellegen had

and down the doub

er the table was proud. "This is my little daughte

ed. But she was quick. Very cautiously she

board. "Too sweet!" said one; and,

" encourage

till and listen to the chorus of prai

s she curtsied she said nothing, only bobbed the satin bow and put out a small hand. And,

slipped a hand into a pocket. When it came forth, it held an oblong box. "I didn't forget that this was your bi

ut Gwendolyn was unaware both of the silence and the scrutiny. She glan

; "-but which is

er and mother joining in. The man who had prese

alute graciously; next he turned to her father, whos

lyn," said h

anding, the one behind her mother, the other behind her father, quietly listening. And what this friend of her father's had in his right hand was not anything to eat, but a delicate-stemmed glass whe

ited much laughter and polite applause; though to her it did not seem

ed, bobbed the ribbon-bow and put out a hand. A pat on the head was dismissal: There was no need to wait for an answer to her q

hed, and she turned a second corner, her f

e the merry-go-roun

fath

hing else my lit

lips were close to his ear. For there was a lady on

nd make it go," she sa

d energe

tween himself and her, to wear a magnificent air, all cold and haughty, that was quite foreign to the nursery.

his side were precisely as many high-backed chairs as on the other. And now, "You adorabl

as turned, she paused. "And what is my daughter going t

ten alone with her father and mother during that one glorious week. But in town her little confidences, for t

, "but my Puffy Bear was nicer, o

ane took one qu

ursery soon," Gwendolyn hasten

indeed

Her face was so pale that every freckle she had stood forth clearly. How strangely-even direly-the great dining-room affected her-who was so at ease in the nursery! No

of affection. Then once more Po

table; at her beautiful, jeweled mother; at the double line of high-backed chairs that showed, now a man's ste

din of chatter and laughter. And the b