even while she made her grumbling protest, she wrote a check.

As for Blair, he took the money, as he took everything else that
she gave him of opportunity and happiness, and said, "Thank you,
mother; you are awfully good"; but he shut his eyes when he
kissed her. He was blind to the love, the yearning, the
outstretched hands of motherhood,--not because he was cruel, or
hard, or mean; but because he was young, and delighted in beauty.

Of course his wretchedness lessened after a fortnight or so--
habit does much to reconcile us to unpleasantness; besides that,
his painting was an interest, and his voice began to be a delight
to him; he used to sing a good deal, making Nannie play his
accompaniments, and sometimes his mother, working in the dining-
room, would pause a moment, with lifted head, and listen and half
smile--then fall to work again furiously.

But the real solace to his misery and irritation came to him--a
boy still in years--in the sudden realization of
_Elizabeth!_




CHAPTER IV

"I am going to have a party," Blair told Nannie; "I've invited
David and Elizabeth, and four fellows; and you can ask four
girls."