but it may be doubted if this maternal dream would ever have been
realised.

A mere accident had led to the adoption of Anna Sheldon shortly
after Florence's death. She was the orphan child of a young artist
in whom Mrs. Herrick had interested herself, and when the broken-
hearted wife had followed her husband, Mrs. Herrick had taken the
lonely child home.

The kind action had brought its own reward. Anna's gentleness and
sweetness of disposition soon won the affection of her adopted
mother. She was submissive by nature, and yielded readily to the
opinions and wishes of those she loved. Mrs. Herrick's ideas on the
subject of education might be bracing and invigorating, but there
was nothing oppressive in her rule. Perhaps she understood girls
better than boys, for Anna thrived under her system. The old nurse
Mrs. Dawson, who still officiated as Mrs. Herrick's personal
attendant, taught her needle-work: an excellent governess, who was
both judicious and reasonable, presided over the schoolroom and
accompanied her in her walks; nor was she entirely without
companions, for she attended dancing and deportment classes with the
young daughters of their vicar, a much-esteemed guide, philosopher,
and friend to the Herrick family.

Until the governess, Miss Greenwood, left them to be married, and
Anna grew up to woman's estate, her life was as happy as most
girls'. The chief events in it were Malcolm's holidays. Anna looked
forward to them for months beforehand, and she always cried herself
to sleep the day he left.