“You were very kind, sweetheart,” Harry said, and again a flood of gratitude seemed to sweeten life for the man.

Ida took another step in her sequence.

“I think Maria had better stay up, if they do come,” said she.  “She enjoys music so much.  She can keep on her new gown.  Maria is so careful of her gowns that I never feel any anxiety about her soiling them.”

“She is just like—­” began Harry, then he stopped.  He had been about to state that Maria was just like her mother in that respect, but he had remembered suddenly that he was speaking to his second wife.

However, Ida finished his remark for him with perfect good-nature.  She had not the slightest jealousy of Harry’s first wife, only a sort of contempt, that she had gotten so little where she herself had gotten so much.

“Maria’s own mother was very particular, wasn’t she, dear?” she said.

“Very,” replied Harry.

“Maria takes it from her, without any doubt,” Ida said, smoothly.  “She looked so sweet in that new gown to-day, that I would like to have the Adamses see her without her coat to-night; and Maria looks even prettier without her hat, too, her hair grows so prettily on her temples.  Maria grows lovelier every day, it seems to me.  I don’t know how many I saw looking at her in church this morning.”

“Yes, she is going to be pretty, I guess,” said Harry, and again his very soul seemed warm and light with pleasure and gratitude.

“She is pretty,” said Ida, conclusively.  “She is at the awkward age, too.  But there is no awkwardness about Maria.  She is like a little fairy.”

Harry beamed upon her.  “She is as proud as punch when she gets a chance to take the little one out, and they made a pretty picture going down the street,” said he, “but I hope she won’t catch cold.  Is that new suit warm?”

“Oh yes! it is interlined.  I looked out for that.”

“You look out for my child as if she were your own, bless you, dear,” Harry said, affectionately.

Then Ida thought that the time for her carefully-led-up-to coup had arrived.  “I try to,” said she, meekly.

“You do.”

Ida began to speak, then she hesitated, with timid eyes on her husband’s face.

“What is it, dear?” asked he.

“Well, I have been thinking a good deal lately about Maria and her associates in school here.”

“Why, what is the matter with them?” Harry asked, uneasily.

“Oh, I don’t know that there is anything very serious the matter with them, but Maria is at an age when she is very impressible, and there are many who are not exactly desirable.  There is Gladys Mann, for instance.  I saw Maria walking down the street with her the other day.  Now, Harry, you know that Gladys Mann is not exactly the kind of girl whom Maria’s own mother would have chosen for an intimate friend for her.”

“You are right,” Harry said, frowning.