While Caroline Was Growing

luxuriously through th

good here, don't you?" sh

was like stained glass in a church, thought Caroline, stroking it surreptitiously, and like stained glass, too, were the lovely books, bloody red, grassy green and brown, like Autumn woods, with edges of gold when the sunlight struck them. They made the wall

om, Duchess," said Caro

e lady, "the only duchess I ever saw was fat-horri

"What I like about this library is, it's so clean. And you can pull the

ess, dropping into a great carved c

and you can't blame him, but he licks himself dreadfully and then rubs it on the backs. He marks them, too, inside, with a pencil or a hatpin, or even an orange-wood stick that you clean your

th. "And your uncle objects?

on her little stool, "that if the President had General in his

ss laughe

he agreed. "You said Cousi

they have to be, with the General's shoes two dollars and a half a pair! You see he has quite thick

t rested afte

before she was married she'd have gone South with a trained nurse after such an experience, b

ly half out of the griffin

g the glistering velvet, "isn't that funny? Just so in case you migh

aid, adding very low, "but she is n

y fond of children, aren't you? It seems so queer that when you like them you can't manage to have any. And people that don't care about them have them all the time. It was only Christmas time that Norah Mahoney-she doe

the corner of her mouth that her eyes were full of tears

be you'll have some. Most eve

d mutely; a large round t

Weavers did, and she was quite a nice girl; I used to play with her

she spoke more brightly. "I wanted to adopt one-one could t

ine looked worried

he is willing under certain conditions, but they ar

went there to sing for them and she took Miss Honey and me. They're all dressed differently and they l

f who is interested in children that-that aren't likely to grow up happily, and she will get one for anybody, only one can't ask any questions a

you would give her a good home and be kind to her," Caroline

ed eagerly. "He says the father must be a gentleman-and educated-and the mother a good woman. He says there must be good blood behind it. And they

ine s

s make up his mind,

ot know our name, even! Just give up the child and withdraw-why, the poorest, commonest people would not do that, and does he expect that p

ing at the opal globes she sat, and agai

el-like, the four milky moons swayed ever so little on their brass chains, the white busts looked coldl

t white polar bear that made the little reception room such a delightful place. More than the busts in the library even, he set loose the fancy, and whiled

trained nurse, appe

gham, to-day, dear?" she asked. "Hunt

take care of babies, too?"

undman

ll nurses can; it's part of the training. Have you any yo

own people have them! I don't mean if they're sick, but can you wash

an!" Miss Grundman cried, "you

Caroline assured her, and slid carefully along th

um-colored cushion, Hunt and Gleggson bolt upright on the seat outside. It was a matter for congratulation to

o an affable gentleman behind the plate-glass; he measured with his knuckles and illustrated in pantomime the snapping of something over his knee; the clerk shook his head in commiseration and signalled to an attendant, who darted off. Soon Hunt appeared with a small package and they started on again, turning a corner abruptly and winding through less exciting streets. The shops grew smaller and dingier; drays passed lumbering by and street cars jarred along beside them, but vehicles like their own were noticeably lacking. It was plain that they attracted more attention, now, and more than one group of children dancing in the street to the music

g for, please, Gleg

like. 'E'll be 'ere directly. Would you

poke very

aid doubtfully. "If you think he'l

as been gone some time, and I think I could lay me 'and on 'im. You'l

had taken, deflecting, however, to enter a little door made

tered resentfully, and deliberately opening

reet was dirty, the few children in sight were playing a game unknown to her and not playing very pleasantly, at that; the women who looked at her seemed more curious than kindly. The atmosphere was

for any particular

," said Caroline, "he w

suggested, "right hand flat, second floor. I seen the

"I'm not lost. I can go right

dingy doors opened in three different directions, and a soiled card on the middle one bore the name of Hunt. A man's voice somewhere behind it talked

the same? Put your finger on the place where I made th

man's voice interrupted

e knock

huffling and a key

do you want? The auction's all over-there'

ctions there were red flags, and horses and carriages gathered around the house,

oor o

in and fatigued, with dark rings under her

" Caroline answered, "

long before we moved in, I guess. They were old renters,

line's simple but unmista

," Caroline explained, "I

not much to sit on, 'specially if you're used to automobiles, but we can find you something, I hope. I try

shed the small room; through an open door Caroline spied a

us got the best o' the bargain. Now, about you. Where do you live? I s'pose they're lo

nkly about her. "Wasn't there

t the limit!" she murmured. She stepped to the door

g on," she said, "he's in there.

air all tossed about, his face drawn in misery, even in his heavy sleep, a young man sat b

?" whispere

be almost as well off if he was," said the woman. "I

and clenched his hand, so t

I would. Did I have any pull? Was there any favoritism? No-

" Caroline inquired mat

, I guess not. It was for writing a story for on

ned his eye

said, still in that strange sing-s

sheet from an inner pocket

"it's easy enough to see if

letter-heading and began to rea

Mr. Wi

hat your story, "The Renewal," has been selected by the judg

ched the paper

the child alone, Mr. Willist

d like a stone

hat dreadful word! Yes, she's lost

roline back into

ce. It's real sad. I was as sorry as I could be for 'em, and I'd have kept 'em even longer if she'd lived, though they couldn't pay. I'd keep the baby, to

t me see it!" Caroline p

, you can see him. He's good as gol

fat baby slept, one fist in his dewy mouth. The red-gold down was thick o

sighed ec

lovely!" s

his mother never saw him, poor little thin

in amazement tow

f his wife, though. He told me he was going to leave him right here, and then, of course, somebody in the house would notify the police, if I didn't take him to the Foundling

in Richard would be glad to have him-he wan

rply. "What do you mean?" s

I hate to hear him talking to them the way he will. He don't know what he's doing. He tells 'em all about that prize-and it's true, you know, he did get it; that's what they married on, and he thought he could get plenty more that way, and then he never sold another story. It was too bad. He's a re

her eyes

to Harvard?" Caroline inqui

oor brought her sharply around. The young man stood there. Though still unshaven, he was otherwise quite

e said in a grating, disagreeable voice. "I have in fact been called a '

nd picked up the baby; the young man shifted his eyes from

to go off and leave her alone. Her family'd be worried to death. When I go out with the baby I'll take her. I sup

ve disposed of the matter along the lines you yourself suggested, I am at your service till you take the train. Aft

n, don't, now! Why don't you go out with the little girl and see if you

hing about his hat, but Ca

ou went to Harvard, that's all Cousin Richard said, except about a gentleman"-she

"In my own case, I have grave doubts. What do you thin

alk so-of course you're a gentleman!" she cried, "yo

twisted

oes this child mean? Who is yo

ou his last name, you know, because he doesn't want you to know. That's jus

istcoat a small gold pin. He tore a strip of wrapping p

it. If your cousin is a Harvard man, the pin will be enough, but he can look me up

e paper on the floor, picked out of it a stiff sheet torn once t

ificate," he said to the

er hold on the bottle in her hand. "Why, she may be making it all up!

er excited remo

, Mrs. Ufford," he said, "she is repeating something she's heard, I thi

. "The mother must be a good

them s

say, really. If there's not, she can go right on with the-with it, and do as-as we arranged before. It's all written on the paper, and my full consent to the adoption, and

hile for a few kind moments he forgot. At length his eyes shifted and he took up his broken phrase, unconscious, evidently, of the pause. "-her's are back in New England. They never knew.... I had some pride. They're the I-told-you-so sort, anyhow. And they

shed her tired, lined face, he leaned

as good as gold, and even when I've paid you the money I owe you, I'll ow

n, and she looked appealingly up at him,

she began, "and if you was to go to her folks or

ent hand c

you could look out for him well enough, once you get started. Just see how sma

twisted p

wasn't I? Do you think-" his voice rang harshly and he struck the table by his side till it rattled on

he blankets tightly about the quiet child. With one ges

e said to Caroline; "it'll help keep

passed him. At the outer door she p

or the Lord knows you've had more than your share of trouble. But won't you kiss

itterness of his voice frightened Caroline;

nk throug

on the stairs, but Caroline pat

n a moment, and the woman poi

automobile?

ugham stood empty and al

et!" she cried in d

ing for you," Mrs.

awfully. I didn't expect to get such a good one, so soon," she wen

He's not cross-but his heart's just about broke. He thinks more money would've saved her

a few step

s better as 'tis, 'specially if your folks will take the baby. They'll do a lot more for it than ever

red, indifferently, "that's only the brougham-there a

he woman said, musingly. "'Seemed like kind of a sign to him, I could

y, perhaps becau

ege, I s'pose?" she

the best. We all go to Yale. Uncle Joe says there had to

rs. Ufford returne

deserted as when Caroline had left it. The baby

. I've got enough for that-the things sold real well, and he'd never let me lose, anyhow. He isn't that kind. I took a real likin' to both of 'em. I've kept boarders, all over, for fiftee

s; she heard the incredulous joy of the Duchess, she explained importantly with convincing detail, to Cousin Richard the cri

, and she opened the br

id, "and then I can hold h

answered doubtfully, "s'pose you go in firs

mpatiently. "There's Hunt 'way up the st

d, her foot on

vin' at us! I guess he forgot some paper he wants you to take-he's bound to have it lega

ing fast; his face was

, and as she lifted the bundle high, his face cl

it in my pocket-book-I thought you might be gone-she put it ther

e brougham, supported the child on her rais

I am sure. But you will have the little girl. I am sure she will be a girl, and I hope she will look like me and be a comfort to you. You will take good care of her, I know. Think how nicely you took care of me and how hard you worked. You take her to my sister, and when she gets big enough, then you take he

ving wi

ild out to the young man. Without a word he took it and s

s," he murmured

m, wrinkled its features and appeared t

Ufford, he knows

said, soothingly. "You'll

why he's all I've got of hers-all! H

ady! We're right out in the street, Mr. Williston!

e, neglected and wide

l. I can't help bein' glad. It ain't always that money does the mos

ine g

answered bravely. "

er. "You're real-there's your coachman runnin'. He

er the tall figure that hurried on with his bundle,

n me, will you, Miss? He'd fair kill the life out o' me! He's comin' now. 'e 'ad to go, Miss, fer his little boy was

. Hunt was very near

will you h'overlook it for once, M

ll right," she said we

ense of joy in the joy of the two even now round

go to Harvard, a