“Miss Earl, I believe Mr. Manning called upon you last evening.  Where did you know him?”

“I never saw him until yesterday, but we have corresponded for some time.”

“Indeed! you are quite honored.  He is considered very fastidious.”

“He is certainly hypercritical, yet I have found him kind and gentlemanly, even courteous.  Our correspondence is entirely attributable to the fact that I write for his magazine.”

Mrs. Andrews dropped her ivory crochet-needle and sat, for a moment, the picture of wild-eyed amazement.

“Is it possible!  I had no idea you were an author.  Why did you not tell me before?  What have you written?”

Edna mentioned the titles of her published articles, and the lady of the house exclaimed: 

“Oh! that ‘Vigil of Grutli’ is one of the most beautiful things I ever read, and I have often teased Mr. Manning to tell me who wrote it.  That apostrophe to the Thirty Confederates is so mournfully grand that it brings tears to my eyes.  Why, Miss Earl, you will be famous some day!  If I had your genius, I should never think of plodding through life as a governess.”

“But, my dear madam, I must make my bread, and am compelled to teach while I write.”

“I do not see what time you have for writing.  I notice you never leave the children till they are asleep; and you must sleep enough to keep yourself alive.  Are you writing anything at present?”

“I finished an article several days ago which will be published in the next number of the magazine.  Of course, I have no leisure during the day, but I work till late at night.”

“Miss Earl, if you have no objection to acquainting me with your history, I should like very much to know something of your early life and education.”

While Edna gave a brief account of her childhood, Felix nestled his hand into hers, and laid his head on her knee, listening eagerly to every word.

When she concluded, Mrs. Andrews mused a moment, and then said: 

“Henceforth, Miss Earl, you will occupy a different position in my house; and I shall take pleasure in introducing you to such of my friends as will appreciate your talent.  I hope you will not confine yourself exclusively to my children, but come down sometimes in the evening and sit with me; and, moreover, I prefer that you should dine with us, instead of with these nursery folks, who are not quite capable of appreciating you—­”

“How do you know that, mamma?  I can tell you one thing, I appreciated her before I found out that she was likely to be ‘famous’!  Before I knew that Mr. Manning condescended to notice her.  We ‘nursery folk’ judge for ourselves, we don’t wait to find out what other people think, and I shan’t give up Miss Earl!  She is my governess, and I wish you would just let her alone!”

There was a touch of scorn in the boy’s impatient tone, and his mother bit her lip, and laughed constrainedly: