"No doubt it comes suddenly on you, Calvin. Still, you say you heard of Sam's death. Did Sylvia write you?" 

 "Yes." 

 "Did she tell you she was coming to Boston?" 

 "Yes." 

 "Have you got an idea in this world, Calvin Trent, what she's going to do?" 

 "No, have you?" 

 It was something to have won a question from him. Miss Martha stirred in her chair. 

 "No, I haven't. It is easy to see how her friends thought it would be cheapest to pay her fare here and get her off their hands. Now I thought I'd go to Boston Wednesday morning instead of sending for her to come here, for if she once gets in here it'll be every one's business to nose into our affairs and have something to say." Miss Lacey paused a moment and then added boldly: "And I thought if you would go with me, we could find out just what she has to live on, if anything, and whether she has any plans." 

 The humped-over figure continued to gaze silently into space. 

 "It would be hypocrisy for me to say I have any affection for an absolute stranger just because she happens to be the child of a brother who never was any comfort to me in this world. With you it may be different," continued Miss Lacey, with what she intended to be adroitness. "Laura was a dear little thing, and you loved her, and this is her child." 

 Another pause. It was doubtful what thoughts were behind Judge Trent's half-closed eyes. 

 "My affairs aren't any more brilliant and promising as the years go by," pursued Miss Lacey. "You know as well as I do what condition I'm in to adopt Sam's girl." 

 She suddenly dashed some bright drops from her lashes. Indignant tears they were, brought there by the apparent futility of her appeals. 

 "By the way," said the judge slowly, "that visit of condolence I was intending to make on you was to be one of congratulation as well." 

 Martha paused, her handkerchief poised in air. 

 "Yes; that 

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