Page 114 (1/1)

It was a cruel thing for Wilford Cameron to try thus to separate Katy from the hearts which loved her so much: and, as if he felt reproached, there was an increased tenderness in his manner toward her, particularly as he sa sad she was for a few days after his decision But Katy could not be sorry long, and in the excite the new house her spirits rallied, and her h the rooms where the workmen were so busy, and where Mrs Cah there was always a show of consulting Katy, who nevertheless was athe ned for Helen, and which Mrs Ca room for Wilford and his associates Katy must not expect hi the winter, she said He had a great many bachelor friends, and now that he had a house of his own, it was natural that he should have some place where they could spend an hour or so with him without the restraint of ladies' society, and this was just the rooe, airy, quiet, and so far from the parlors that the odor of the sreen will do nicely here," turning to Wilford, "but you ar sets, and one or two boxes of chess Shall I see to that?"

Katy had sub; but so had awakened a suspicion that possibly she was being ignored, and the wicked part of Helen would have enjoyed the look in her eye as she said, decidedly, not to Mrs Cameron, but to Wilford: "I have from the very first decided this cha room You never had one at home Why did you not, if it is so necessary?"

Wilford could not tell her that his ht into her house one of Barnu, which she specially disliked; neither could he at once reply at all, so astonished was he at this sudden flash of spirit Mrs Cameron was the first to rally, and in her usual quiet tone she said: "Indeed, I did not know that your sister was to form a part of your household When do you expect her?" and her cold gray eyes rested steadily upon Katy, who never before so fully realized the distance there was between her husband's friends and her own But as the ill turn when trah hitherto powerless to defend herself, aroused in Helen's behalf, and in a tone as quiet and decided as that of her mother-in-law, replied: "She will coed from the first Wasn't it, Wilford?" and she turned to her husband, who, unwilling to decide between a wife he loved and a ment he considered infallible, affected not to hear her, and stole from the room, followed soon by Mrs Cameron, so that Katy was left mistress of the field