“I’m almost afraid I was incautious to allow a friendship to spring up between this strange child and Mildred.  I wish I could see her.”

“Ask her here, then.  She’s very pretty, very gentle, and needs young friends sadly, although the Shellingtons are treating the two children beautifully.  If they don’t grow up to be good, it won’t be Ann’s fault, nor Horace’s.”

“I’ll invite the child to come some afternoon, then.”  With this decision the subject dropped.

* * * * *

That evening Ann went out on a charitable mission, leaving Fledra to deliver a message to Everett and to care for Floyd.  The boy was in bed, his thin white hands resting wearily at his sides.  For sometime he allowed his sister to work at her lessons.  Then he said impetuously: 

“Flea, why be these folks always so kind to you and me?  They ain’t never been mad yet, and I’m allers a yowlin’ ’cause my bones and my heart hurt me.”

Flea looked up from her book meditatively.

“They’re both good, that’s why.”

“It’s ’cause they pray all the time, ain’t it?” Floyd asked.

“I guess so.”

“I’d a died those nights if Sister Ann hadn’t prayed for me, wouldn’t I,
Flea?”

“Yes,” replied Flea in abstraction.

After a silence, Floyd spoke again: 

“Flea, do you like that feller what Sister Ann’s going to marry?”

The girl dropped a monosyllabic negative and fell to studying.

“Why?” insisted Floyd.

Before Flea could reply, a servant appeared at the door, saying that Mr. Brimbecomb wanted Miss Shellington.

[Illustration:  “It were A prince—­A real live prince!”]

Fledra closed her book and went to the drawing-room, where she found Everett standing near the grate.  His brilliant smile made her drop her eyes embarrassedly.  She overlooked his extended hand, and made no move to come forward.  The girl had always felt afraid of him.  Now his presence in the room increased her vague fears.  Why she had felt this sudden premonition of evil, she did not know, nor did she try to analyze her feelings.  Young as she was, Fledra recognized in him an enemy, and yet his attitude betrayed a personal interest.  She had seen him many times during the last few weeks; but had managed to escape him through the connivance of Miss Shellington.  Ann had tactfully explained to the girl that Mr. Brimbecomb did not feel the same toward her and Flukey as did her brother; but had added, “It’s because he does not know you both, Dear, as Horace and I do.”

Once alone with him, she knew only that she wanted to give him Ann’s message and return quickly to Floyd.  Before she could speak, Brimbecomb passed behind her and closed the door.

“Sister Ann won’t be home for an hour,” said Flea, turning sharply.

Everett smiled again.