in dressing her pretty sister in the daintiest of gowns. When she
looked up she saw her husband coming through the gate for his noon
dinner. She put down her sewing and moved to meet him on the porch.

"Well, dear, how are you getting on with the ball dress?" For
Mr. Bilter was as interested in his little sister-in-law as his wife was.
"Renestine will have to look her prettiest to-night. There are some
visiting young men in the town and they will be at the ball."

They went in together and were received by old Aunt Mary, a
colored family servant who was much respected and held in affection by
the members.

"Dinnah jest put on de table, Missus."

"Has Miss Renestine come home?"

"No'm. I's hasn't seen her; prehaps she's kept in fer not
knowin' her lessons."

Just then Renestine came in, her cheeks rosy and her large
black eyes luminous with the exercise of walking home from school. She
entered the dining-room laughing and sat down next to her brother-in-law.

"How were the lessons today, Renestine?" he asked, patting her
hand that lay in his. "Arithmetic right?"

"No trouble at all. Oh, I am so glad that you both had the
idea to send me to school, I love it. I love to be puzzled over a
question and find it out for myself. I love to feel myself gaining