"Then I'll never play again in my life! I only thought he was an old
man that wanted amusing--." Then as one of the children peeped in at
the window, and was called back--"O dear! how shall I ever look at
Conrade again, now any one has thought I could forget his father?"

"If Conrade knew it, which I trust he never will, he ought to esteem
it a testimony to his mother."

"Oh, no, for it must have been my fault! I always was so childish,
and when I've got my boys with me, I can't help being happy," and the
tears swelled again in her eyes. "I know I have not been as sad and
serious as my aunt thought I ought to be, and now this comes of it."

"You have been true, have acted nothing," said Colonel Keith, "and
that is best of all. No one who really knew you could mistake your
feelings. No doubt that your conduct agrees better with what would
please our dear Sir Stephen than if you drooped and depressed the
children."

"Oh, I am glad you say that," she said, looking up, flushed with
pleasure now, and her sweet eyes brimming over. "I have tried to
think what he would like in all I have done, and you know I can't
help being proud and glad of belonging to him still; and he always
told me not to be shy and creeping into the nursery out of every
one's way."

The tears were so happy now that he felt that the wound was healed,
and that he might venture to leave her, only asking first, "And now
what would you like me to do? Shall I try to persuade my brother to