“I’ll make it to-morrow.”

“Oh, I’ll make it myself,” Mrs. North protested, eagerly; “I’d really enjoy—”

“Mother! Tire yourself out in the kitchen? No, indeed! Flora and I will see to it.”

Mrs. North sighed.

[Page 45]Her daughter sighed too; then suddenly burst out: “Old Captain Price comes here pretty often.”

[Page 45]

Mrs. North nodded pleasantly. “That daughter-in-law doesn’t half take care of him. His clothes are dreadfully shabby. There was a button off his coat to-day. And she’s a foolish creature.”

“Foolish? she’s an unladylike person!” cried Miss North, with so much feeling that her mother looked at her in mild astonishment. “And coarse, too,” said Mary North; “I think married ladies are apt to be coarse. From association with men, I suppose.”

“What has she done?” demanded Mrs. North, much interested.

“She hinted that he—that you—”

“Well?”

“That he came here to—to see you.”

[Page 46]“Well, who else would he come to see? Not you!” said her mother.

[Page 46]

“She hinted that he might want to—to marry you.”

“Well—upon my word! I knew she was a ridiculous creature, but really—!”

Mary’s face softened with relief. “Of course she is foolish; but—”

“Poor Alfred! What has he ever done to have such a daughter-in-law? Mary, the Lord gives us our children; but Somebody Else gives us our in-laws!”

“Mother!” said Mary North, horrified, “you do say such things! But really he oughtn’t to come so often. People will begin to notice it; and then they’ll talk. I’ll—I’ll take 

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