"How's father?" they exclaimed.

Staggering to a chair, Mrs. Blaine clasped both her children to her
breast.

"Your father is in Heaven!" she murmured.

Then she fell prostrate on the sofa, her whole being shaken by
convulsive sobs. Virginia, panic-stricken, darted forward, but the
Doctor held out a restraining hand.

"Don't, child--let her cry. It will do her good."




Chapter II.


"Fanny! Where are my scissors? Did you take my scissors?"

"Seated in the centre of the small parlor, before a round table fairly
well lighted by an electrolier suspended from the middle of the
ceiling and littered with chiffons and laces, Mrs. Blaine stopped
sewing and began a laborious search all over the board for the missing
article. Finally the scissors were found hidden in the folds of what
some day would be a graduation dress, but no sooner were they in use
than something else was missing. Impatiently, the widow called out:

"Fanny! I do wish you'd come here. I'll never get this dress done. Did