The Children of Wilton Chase

best brooch at her throat, and a pretty little head-dress of lace and ribbon becomingly arranged over her iron-gray hair, went down past the schoolroom, past the heavy oak door whi

ht; many friends were expected the following day, but to-night Miss Nelso

were both in the study. Miss Wilton was seated at her davenport scribbling off le

he said courteously;

the governess, and w

e--" said M

throat, she felt

me about a

d the pen dropped from her hand. "You hear her, Roder

ame is Shark. I've got confused. Pray pardo

little scamp. Well, Miss Nelson," he could not help laughing. "Ha

course that is nonsense; but is a ferret a safe animal to have in the

Miss Nelson. Ferrets are not safe creatures to have near child

se at once to

low Ermengarde to drive in the carriage without your escort. It so happened that my brother was able to accompany her to-day but I-of co

ible, Miss Wilton! Pardon me, you must be mistaken. Ermengarde was not-not quite-she infringed some of my rules, and I was obliged to give

her side. A page appeared, t

the turned to the window. "Roderick, are you a

I was not attending. I thought you ladi

kindly tell Miss Nelson who was your compa

elf. I was going to tell you, Miss Nelson, when I had the op

lson. The flush on her fa

" continued Miss Wilton ea

s silent for s

aid; then in a low voice, "the

tired and ill, tried to engage her in some general conversation. She answer

ometimes called the little room "Home, sweet Home." Miss Nelson was a well-educated woman; she was between forty and fifty years of age; she had a staid and somewhat cold manner, but she was a good disciplinarian, and thoroughly conscientious. When Mrs. Wil

ursery children were supremely indifferent to her, and Marjorie alone loved her. This latter fact did not raise Miss Nelson in anyone's estimation. It was Marjorie's fashion to love people; it would have been unna

all the children whom she taught, she would have done anything, gone to the length of any sacrifice, for their sakes. She wanted them to grow up good, honorable, worthy of their mother, whose memory she revered. It was easy to prophesy

the little girl, tell her that she would shield her from her father's anger, show her in gentle words how wrong her action had been, assure her of the deep love she really felt for her, and finally forgive her. Or again she mi

o pursue the last idea which came to her, for it seemed quite plain to her ow