Walter Hamilton had not had much opportunity for scanning the face of Mrs. Carter, but now, as she sat there with the firelight flickering over her features, he fancied that he could trace marks of the treacherous deceit of which Mag had warned him; and when the full black eyes rested upon Margaret he failed not to note the glance of scorn which flashed from them, and which changed to a look of affectionate regard the moment she saw she was observed.  “There is something wrong about her,” thought he, “and the next time I am alone with Mag I’ll ask what it is she fears from this woman.”

That night, in the solitude of their room, mother and child communed together as follows:  “I do believe, mother, you are twin sister to the old one himself.  Why, who would have thought, when first you made that friendly visit, that in five weeks time both of us would be snugly ensconced in the best chamber of the homestead?”

“If you think we are in the best chamber, you are greatly mistaken,” replied Mrs. Carter.  “Margaret Hamilton has power enough yet to keep us out of that.  Didn’t she look crestfallen though, when she found I was going to stay, notwithstanding her very disinterested offer of umbrellas and overshoes?  But I’ll pay it all back when I become—­”

“Mistress of the house,” added Lenora.  “Why not speak out plainly?  Or are you afraid the walls have ears, and that the devoted Mrs. Carter’s speeches would not sound well repeated?  Oh, how sanctimonious you did look to-day when you were talking pious to Carrie!  I actually had to force a sneeze, to keep from laughing outright, though she, little simpleton, swallowed it all, and I dare say wonders where you keep your wings!  But really, mother, I hope you don’t intend to pet her so always, for ’twould be more than it’s worth to see it.”

“I guess I know how to manage,” returned Mrs. Carter.  “There’s nothing will win a parent’s affection so soon as to pet the children.”

“And so I suppose you expect Mr. Hamilton to pet this beautiful child!” said Lenora, laughing loudly at the idea, and waltzing back and forth before the mirror.

“Lenora! behave! I will not see you conduct so,” said the widow; to which the young lady replied, “Shut your eyes, and then you can’t!”

Meantime, an entirely different conversation was going on in another part of the house, where sat Walter Hamilton, with his arm thrown affectionately around, Mag, who briefly told of what she feared would result from Mrs. Carter’s intimacy at their house.

“Impossible!” said the young man, starting to his feet.  “Impossible!  Our father has too much sense to marry again anyway, and much more, to marry one so greatly inferior to our own dear mother.”

“I hope it may prove so,” answered Mag; “but with all due respect for our father, you know and I know that mother’s was the stronger mind, the controlling spirit, and now that she is gone father will be more easily deceived.”