tried to make _you_ happy, and I am sure you are ready, by this time,
to try and make _me_ happy--are you not, Zack?"

"Yes, I am," said Zack manfully. His mother took him at once to the
table, on which the "Select Bible Texts for Children" lay open, and
tried to lift him into a chair "No!" said the boy, resisting and
shaking his head resolutely; "I want to learn my lesson on your lap."

Mrs. Thorpe humored him immediately. She was not a handsome, not even a
pretty woman; and the cold atmosphere of the dressing-room by no means
improved her personal appearance. But, notwithstanding this, she looked
absolutely attractive and interesting at the present moment, as she sat
with Zack in her arms, bending over him while he studied his three
verses in the "Bible Texts." Women who have been ill-used by nature
have this great advantage over men in the same predicament--wherever
there is a child present, they have a means ready at hand, which they
can all employ alike, for hiding their personal deficiencies. Who ever
saw an awkward woman look awkward with a baby in her arms? Who ever saw
an ugly woman look ugly when she was kissing a child?

Zack, who was a remarkably quick boy when he chose to exert himself,
got his lesson by heart in so short a time that his mother insisted on
hearing him twice over, before she could satisfy herself that he was
really perfect enough to appear in his father's presence. The second
trial decided her doubts, and she took him in triumph down stairs.

Mr. Thorpe was reading intently, Mr. Goodworth was thinking profoundly,
the rain was falling inveterately, the fog was thickening dirtily, and
the austerity of the severe-looking parlor was hardening apace into its
most adamantine Sunday grimness, as Zack was brought to say his lesson