millinering to get a living."

"Certainly, let her come," answered Mr. Browning, who was noted for
his benevolence.

This matter being thus satisfactorily settled, Mrs. Peters arose from
the table, while Mr. Browning went back to the olden memories which
had haunted him so much that day, and with which there was not mingled
a single thought of the little Rosamond, who was to exert so strong an
influence upon his future life.




CHAPTER II.

ROSAMOND LEYTON.


Rosamond had been some weeks at Riverside, and during all that time
Mr. Browning had scarcely noticed her at all. On the first day of her
arrival he had spoken kindly to her, asking her how old she was, and
how long her mother had been dead, and this was all the attention he
had paid to her. He did not even yet know the color of her eyes, or
texture of her hair,--whether it were curly or straight, black or
brown; but he knew in various ways that she was there--knew it by the
sound of dancing feet upon the stairs, which were wont to echo only to
Mrs. Peters' heavy tread--knew it by the tasteful air his room
suddenly assumed--by the ringing laugh and musical songs which came
often from the kitchen, and by the thousand changes which the presence