“Why, we saw you yesterday at the Victoria. I could not pass him by, you remember?”

The baby, one beaming smile, nestled his face bashfully in his mother’s neck and patted her cheek, glancing sidewise at his admirers through brimming tears, while Cassandra, her eyes large and pathetic, turned now on Laura, now on her mother, stood silent, quivering like one of her own mountain creatures brought to bay. But she was strengthened as she felt her baby again in her arms, and as she stood thus looking about her, every one became silent, and she was constrained to speak. She did not know that something in her manner and appearance had commanded silence — something tragic — despairing. It was but for an instant, then she turned to Lady Laura.

“Thank you for