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I

Mrs Baxter possessed one of the two secrets of serenity The other need not be specified; but hers arose from the most pleasant and most human fors did not fit with her own sches, but only fancies of soarded the her serenity on one day early in February

She rose as usual at a fixed hour--eight o'clock--and when she was ready knelt down at her prie-Dieu This was quite an elaborate structure, far more elaborate than the devotions offered there It was a very beautiful inlaid Florentine affair, and had a little shelf above it filled with a nuhted She did not use these books very much; but she liked to see them there

It would not be decent to enter the sanctuary of Mrs Baxter's prayers; it is enough to say that they were not very long Then she rose froe comfortable bedroom, redolent with soap and hot water, and caure in black lace veil and rich dress, through the sunlight of the staircase, into the dining-room

There she took up her letters and packets They were not exciting There was an unimportant note froue; and she scrutinized these through her spectacles, sitting by the fire When she had done she noticed a letter lying by Maggie's place, directed in a ie ca picture, fresh froht and air, and kissed her

While Mrs Baxter poured out tea she addressed a reue inattentiveup presently with a sense of injury, noticed that Maggie was reading her letter with extraordinary diligence

"My dear, I ahtly huie, and continued reading

Mrs Baxter put out her hand for the Bon Marché catalogue in order to drive hoie's eyes, suddenly raised to , what is the ie still stared at her aboth herself and the other, and finally handed the letter across with an abrupt movement