’I came because it was my duty.  Not many people do their duty in this world, but though I’m a very poor man, I won’t shirk it—­no, I won’t shirk it.’  He rubbed his hands together slowly, and nodded across the hearth to his niece.  Instead of being pleased, as she ought to have been, with this announcement, she gave a quick little shiver.  ’My brother John—­your father, I mean—­and I have not met for a good number of years, not since we had the misfortune to disagree about a trifle,’ continued the old man, keeping his eyes fixed on the girl’s face till she found herself made nervous by them.  ’Time has proved that I was right, quite right; but my brother John was always, if you will excuse me saying it, rather pigheaded, and’—­

‘Don’t let us speak about him if you do not feel kindly to him!’ cried the girl, her great eyes flashing, her slender frame trembling with indignation.  ’I will not listen, I will go away and leave you, Uncle Abel, if you speak harshly of papa.’

’So’—­Abel Graham slapped his knee as he uttered this meditative monosyllable, and continued to regard his niece with keener scrutiny, if that were possible, than before.  ’It is John’s temper—­a very firebrand.  My dear, you are very young, and you should not be above taking advice.  Let me advise you to control that fiery passion.  Temper doesn’t pay—­it is one of the things which nothing can ever make pay in this world.  Well, will you be so kind as to give me a little insight into the state of your affairs?  A poor enough state they appear to be in, if this parson writes truly—­only parsons are accustomed to draw the long bow, for the purpose of ferreting money out of people’s pockets.  Well, my dear, have you nothing to tell me?’

Gladys continued to look at him with dislike and distrust she made no attempt to disguise.  If only he would not call her ‘my dear.’  She resented the familiarity.  He had no right to presume on such a short acquaintance.

‘I have nothing to tell you, I think,’ she said very coldly, ’except that papa is dead, and I have to earn my own living.’

[Illustration]

CHAPTER II.

WHAT TO DO WITH HER.

’Your own living?  I am glad to hear you put it so sensibly.  I must say I hardly expected it,’ said the old man, with engaging frankness.  ’Well, but tell me first what your name is.  I don’t know what to call you.’

‘Gladys,’ she answered; and her uncle received the information in evident disapproval.

’Gladys!  Now, what on earth is the meaning of such a name?  Your father and mother ought to be ashamed of themselves!  Why can’t people name their children so that people won’t stare when they hear it?  Jane, Susan, Margaret, Christina,—­I’m sure there are hundreds of decent names they might have given you.  I think a law should be passed that no child shall be named until he is old enough to choose for himself.  Mine is bad enough,—­they might as well have christened me Cain when they were at it,—­but Gladys, it beats all!’