and, forcing a smile, turned to her.

"Yes, Aunt Felicie; and a nice way to spend it, glowering at the fire!
Where's uncle?"

"He has to that meeting gone at the Natural History building; I cannot
its name remember. Why? had you a private word to say?"

"Well, I haven't told you about my trip yet, to Killamet."

"Ah! It was then to Killamet that you have been? I have thought so,
though you did say it was a business trip."

"And so it was, partly; old Adam has sold my yacht, and I went to get
the money."

"Are there, then, no banks with drafts, or notes of post in Killamet?"
rallyingly.

"Don't tease, auntie, but listen. I called on the little princess."

"Of course."

"And, Aunt Felicie, her father is lost at sea, and she is caring for all
those little ones, alone."

"Ah, the poor child! Is she then born to trouble, as the sparks do fly
upward? Are they very, very poor, Robert?"

"No; she said they had means, though it is probably but little, a