The Reason Why

s finishing hers in the little upstairs sitting-room which he had allotted to he

politeness she always used in her dealings with him-

rd "marriage" her nostrils quivered, but she said nothing. She was always extremely difficult to deal with, on account of these silences

jection to him on the ground of his person, and he i

l si

sition. You had better get them in Paris." Then he paused, struck by the fact which he had only just noticed, that the garments she had been wearing and those she now wore were shab

uld have done so always, if I had not known where the money would go;

er and Mimo without paying for them. She had agreed upon the price-her

consented I want him to be able to go into the warmth without delay

hose delicate in the lungs. I have communicated with him; and he will take the child into his own house, where he will be beautifully cared for. There he can have a tutor, and when he is stronger he

y clever doctor, in good air, with some discipline as to bedtime, and not those unwholesome meals, snatched at odd hours at some res

" she asked. Mirko was peculiar,

other's age. He is nine and a half, is it not so? An

ded more

and see the doctor firs

, to be invested for him, so that when he grows up he will have a competence-even a s

until my brother can go to this place. I do not consent to give myself, unless I am certain that I free thos

he best of tempers to-day. "Meanwhile, that part of the arrangement being settl

to see him,"

ncle

oubt, will bring you a ring. I trust to your honor not to show so plainly your dislike that no man could carry through his side. Please remember y

icy stillness settled upon her. But she began to speak rat

only marionettes in your hands. Explain to the man that I will not go through the degradation of the pretence of an engagement, especially here in this England, where, Maman said, they parade affections, and fiancés are lover

. He obtained endless pleasure out of life by his habit of abstract observation. He was able to wa

er temper would never brook it. He knew he could count upon her honor and her pri

him this afternoon, and that then you are going to Paris, and will not return until the w

d so; only let them

said, as he rose and kissed her hand. "None of the royal ladies, your ancestresses, ever

d up and down for a few moments, and her whole serp

t to her life and joys like another-and now sh

part, I will not bear it! Until the wedding I

uld have known that all the courage he had used wh

lmed herself and was preparing to go out. The good part of the news mu

s for Mirko, and new clothes; twice as much would be spent, if credit could be obtained; and then there would be the worry of the bills and the anxiety. If only Mirko would consent to be parted from his fond and irresponsible parent for a time it would be so much better for his health, and his chance of becoming of some use in the world. Mimo always meant so kindly and behaved so foolishly! With the money

thy surroundings; surely i

t and she got out, paid the man, a

in a few minutes-would the lady step up and wait? She followed the lumpy, untidy figure upstairs to a large attic at the top. It was always let

eman, which never deserted him. Now Zara recognized the old traveling rug hung on two easels, to hide the little iron beds where he and Mirko slept. The new wonder, which would be bound to sell, was begun there on a third easel. It d

n hotels; and for months at a time, in later years, when he disappeared, upon his own pleasures bent, he would leave her in some old Normandy farmhouse, only too thankful to be free from his hateful presence. Here Mimo and Mirko would join her, and while they painted and played, she would read. Her whole inner life was spent with books. Among the shady society her husband had frequented she had been known as "The Stone." She never unben

l downfall, Elinka, Markrute's sister, and an emperor's daughter, remained an abs

imo had sometimes gone for compan

friends. One or two gamblers had often come to the Nice villa, but except that they were better looking types and wore well made clothes, she had classed them with the rest of her husband's acquain

tly impatient when at

that by their glad, hurried mounting of th

led himself into her arms, while Mimo kissed her

I have made my uncle see reason. Here is something for the present. He has such

r she could the picture of the boy's future, but in spite of all that, his

d strong, and learn some lessons. All little boys go to school, and come home for t

so well. Oh! Chérisette, what shall I do? And

eties," Mimo said. "Truly your sister is an angel, and you must not be so ungrateful. Your co

Zara sighed and

you love me you will accept it! Can't you trust me that I would not ask you to go where they are hard or cruel?

g and kissing her, nestling in her arm

arying gentleness toward him which she showed

be no use even suggesting to her uncle that the child should stay with Mimo, the situation would have become an impasse if the boy had held out, and between them they would have had only this forty pounds until Christmas-and then very little more-a

lowing colors until the child's pathet

e though it looked, and changing was unpleasant. If they were able to buy some linen sheets and a new suit of clothes for each it would be much better to stay for the presen