the back of her chair, while the dark eyes fixed on the fire grew
a little dim.

Mrs. Hapgood leaned over and rested her hand on the girl's, as it
lay on the arm of her chair.

"I'm glad to have you say so, Katharine," said she. "For this
year, I am to stand in place of a mother to you, you know, and I
like to have you feel at home here."

"I know all that," answered Katharine; "and I'm glad they sent me
here, only it mixes me all up. When I was at home and kept hearing
little bits about it, the parties and the flowers and the pretty
gowns, I felt as if I couldn't wait to be old enough to be in it
all. When I came away, mamma said I was to be here a year, and
then, go home to come out, so I could be ready to be married at
eighteen, as she did. A year is such a little while to wait that I
thought I was almost there. But when I came here, I found the
girls of my age acting like children, and having splendid times
doing what I had always thought was silly, and not caring the
least bit about society and all that. I shall just get used to
this and like it, and then go back into the other once more."

"But not in just the same way, I hope."

"I suppose not, auntie; but it won't make so very much difference,
after all."

"Perhaps not," her aunt answered; "but it may make a little. If
you hadn't come to us, you would never have seen the other side,