it into the fireplace. It fell under the grate instead of into
the grate. With amazing activity for a woman of her age, she ran
across the room to burn it. Younger and quicker, Mrs. Linley got
to the fireplace first, and seized the letter. "There is
something more!" she exclaimed. "And you are afraid of my knowing
what it is."

"Don't read it!" Mrs. Presty called out.

There was but one sentence left to read: "If your maternal
anxiety suggests any misgiving, let me add that a woman's loving
care will watch over our little girl while she is under my roof.
You will remember how fond Miss Westerfield was of Kitty, and you
will believe me when I tell you that she is as truly devoted to
the child as ever."

"I tried to prevent you from reading it," said Mrs. Presty.

Mrs. Linley looked at her mother with a strange unnatural smile.

"I wouldn't have missed this for anything!" she said. "The
cruelest of all separations is proposed to me--and I am expected
to submit to it, because my husband's mistress is fond of my
child!" She threw the letter from her with a frantic gesture of
contempt and burst into a fit of hysterical laughter.

The old mother's instinct--not the old mother's reason--told her
what to do. She drew her daughter to the open window, and called
to Kitty to come in. The child (still amusing herself by fishing
in the lake) laid down her rod. Mrs. Linley saw her running