Europe. And when we did start, when we reached the Channel to cross to England, it seemed as if I could n't get home fast enough, as if something would happen. And yet here we all are, and nothing has happened except just the right things, that always do happen, I suppose. Do you know, mamma, I never realized until yesterday that I was grown up, a young lady."

"Yes," Mrs. Alston said with a sigh. "I think I would have been satisfied to keep you by me in childhood for years to come."

Robert went round and sat on the step by his mother, Kathie being on the other side. Then Fred came and seated himself just below, leaning his arms on his mother's lap. It made a pretty picture.

"I wish I could have you painted just so," remarked Uncle Robert. "You own them all now, Dora."

"I and mine," she uttered with pardonable motherly

pride.

6.

But Rob is going away," said Freddy.

"O Rob, where?" Kathie asked.

"Why, I suppose I ought to be looking out for my living somewhere," returned Robert.

"You don't think I could stay here always, hanging on uncle, do you?" "But what are you going to do?"

"Did you hear to-day, Uncle?" the young man asked, glancing past his mother.

Uncle Robert nodded.

Then he said aloud, “Yes, that

is one of the pains and penalties of manhood, law."

an old

Robert Alston looked straight before him, over the space of lawn and lake to the woods on the farther shore. There were old laws and old penalties, and no one could hope to escape them. Every error or carelessness or sin had to be paid for in kind. He would fain have made his mother's wish reality, begun again at childhood. If one could retrace — if regret could undo!

Uncle Robert would not allow the conversation to drop to any saddened key just now of all times. It was right enough that Rob should strike out for himself; but if he could have elected to remain nearer home! Yet there was always a little roving tendency was it in the blood? Even when he had started another topic, he kept a quiet side for his thought.

:

Indeed there was no chance for conversation to flag. Not an old friend or protégé had Kathie forgotton, though it had been impossible to keep up with them all. But Uncle Robert seemed to have a catalogue of them and the most important events that had happened.

Kathie found her own room refurnished and quite a marvel of beauty. The other belongings had been placed in a smaller room across the hall; and when all the pictures and bits of remembrance had been unpacked, it became a wonder to know what to do with them.

There was much going to and from between them and the Darrells, and after a day or two Cedarwood was besieged by old friends. It was still warm, being the first of September, and there could be a good deal of out-door living. The girls were all wild about Kathie; and there were compliments and exclamations enough to make her vain.

Rob had decided to make his business essay in Chicago; why, no one could quite tell, for his uncle wished him to take a situation in New York among friends. Through Mr. Meredith, Uncle Robert had found a nice position; but Mrs. Alston was quite disappointed at her son's preference for mercantile life. The offer had come, and now in a few days he was to say good by again.

His college career had proved very satisfactory on the whole. He had the Latin oration and had taken one of the prizes. There had been a good deal of rowing and pleasures of various kinds, and some boyish escapades, but nothing that had detracted from his standing. His mother had gone to commencement and felt duly proud of her son.

"Mother," Rob said the next morning, "I think we ought to give another party -a sort of welcome home to Kathie to introduce her afresh to Brookside: so many new people have come in; and then it is something to have a travelled young lady in one's family."

Mrs. Alston glanced up at her brother.

"I was thinking of that myself. I suppose Kathie will have to begin young ladyhood."

"Does n't it seem queer?" said she.

"Will I have to

drive round in a pony carriage with mamma, and keep my cards in her case, as they do in English novels? And I ought to have a white silk dress."

"Why, that would be a wedding dress," declared Fred. "Not necessarily in my case." And Kathie laughed. "The party is a bright idea," said Uncle Robert.

ought to set about it at once."

66

"We

Oh, do you remember the first lovely party we had here, when the house was christened? I don't believe I should ever want to go entirely away to stay I mean: there are so many dear and delightful memories and joys. I seem not to have really lived anywhere but just here, only I have been out a-visiting a good deal," she said gayly.

"I hope to keep you for many years to come," rejoined her mother, with a tender kiss.

66

Oh, you will be sure to! to begin some kind of living. go to school any more?"

I feel as if I was just ready

I suppose I do not need to

"Not unless you wish to study law or medicine," said Uncle Robert, with a dry sort of smile.

“I am afraid I have not sufficient application. And I have no genius. Mamma, will you be satisfied with a commonplace daughter?'

A glance answered the question. The every-day virtues and pleasures were not quite so commonplace as the world might think.

"Yes, I should like to have a party," Kathie began, “if the girls have not forgotten me, or gone away. A real American party again."

"We have quite a number of new neighbors," said Uncle Robert. "I have had to solace myself with some other young ladies."

"Then I shall be all curiosity to see them she exclaimed archly.

my rivals,"

They all decided it would be quite the best way to announce Kathie's return. Uncle Robert began a list. Kathie listened to the strange names. There was a Miss Georgie Halford, who had been spending the summer with Mrs. Adams, their neighbor, and whose mother, now dead, had been Mrs. Adams's cousin. There were some new neighbors on the avenue, the Collamores, who had three delightful young people; and as they went on Kathie exclaimed, 66 Why, I shall not know any of them! It will be quite like a foreign party, after all."

"You will like the Collamores," said Rob. "And, Kathie, do you remember little Rose Gordon? She graduated this summer from some great school, and is just beautiful. I took a party of girls out rowing one day, and she amused them by telling of a wonderful snow-house we once built, and a fairy play we had. I'd nearly forgotten about it, but it all came back."

"It was the winter before Uncle Robert came home. Oh, how strange it seems!" And a curious light filled Kathie's eyes.

"Now your friends, Kathie," said Uncle Robert.

"Let us invite the girls who were here so long ago; at least, all we can. Oh, where is Lottie Thorne?"

"Still here, still in maiden meditation fancy free,' declared Rob, "but making big eyes at all eligibles. She would remind you of what Ada Meredith used to be, only she is sickly sentimental."

"Oh, have you seen Ada? She has changed, and she puzzled me a good deal."

"She is getting fitted into another new life," said Uncle Robert. "The past two years have been very hard for Ada. Mrs. Meredith will never be anything but a worldly wise, fashionable woman. What 6 our set' thinks and does and wears is all in all to her; she is surprised at having a daughter who does n't think like her, who feels that fashion may not be quite everything. I must commend Ada for trying to be a good daughter to her mother as well as her father. Dr. Garnier is an intellectual man, with a strong home side to his character: and now Ada is trying to adapt herself to a new sphere; she has more real character than I gave her credit for.”

"She's grown a famous favorite with Uncle Robert," declared his nephew. "I can't get on with her than I used."

any better

"Lucy Gardiner and Harry Cox are engaged. I heard that in Italy, was n't it odd? I want the girls and Harry, and Sophie Dorrance, and oh, I am afraid I shall forget somebody! Mamma, do you ever hear about Mary Carson?"

"She married very well last winter: her husband has a large iron interest at Pittsburg." And Mrs. Alston glanced questioningly at Kathie.

"I was n't going to invite her," and Kathie flushed; "that is, we never were intimate, you know; only at Rome Emma and I were talking over the strife between the patricians, and - But I think the strife was all on one side, - Emma was so stanch and loyal. I shall always love her. "

"It was quite an experience. Of course you have heard from Sarah Strong?"

"I always wrote to her when I could, for I knew just what would interest her."

"They have all improved greatly," said Uncle Robert;