failed to supply.  While dazzled by the glitter and splendor of “Le Bocage,” she shivered in its silent dreariness, its cold, aristocratic formalism, and she yearned for the soft, musical babble of the spring-branch, where, standing ankle-deep in water under the friendly shadow of Lookout, she had spent long, blissful July days in striving to build a wall of rounded pebbles down which the crystal ripples would fall, a miniature Talulah or Tuccoa.  The chrism of nature had anointed her early life and consecrated her heart, but fate brought her to the vestibule of the temple of Mammon, and its defiling incense floated about her.  How long would the consecration last?  As she slowly limped about the house and grounds, acquainting herself with the details, she was impressed with the belief that happiness had once held her court here, had been dethroned, exiled and now waited beyond the confines of the park, anxious but unable to renew her reign and expel usurping gloom.  For some weeks after her arrival she took her meals in her own room, and having learned to recognize the hasty, heavy tread of the dreaded master of the house, she invariably fled from the sound of his steps as she would have shunned an ogre; consequently her knowledge of him was limited to the brief inspection and uncomplimentary conversation which introduced him to her acquaintance on the day of his return.  Her habitual avoidance and desire of continued concealment was, however, summarily thwarted when Mrs. Murray came into her room late one night, and asked: 

“Did not I see you walking this afternoon without your crutches?”

“Yes, ma’am, I was trying to see if I could not do without them entirely.”

“Did the experiment cause you any pain?”

“No pain exactly, but I find my ankle still weak.”

“Be careful not to overstrain it; by degrees it will strengthen if you use it moderately.  By the by, you are now well enough to come to the table; and from breakfast to-morrow you will take your meals with us in the dining-room.”

A shiver of apprehension seized Edna, and in a frightened tone she ejaculated: 

“Ma’am!”

“I say, in future you will eat at the table instead of here in this room.”

“If you please, Mrs. Murray, I would rather stay here.”

“Pray, what possible objection can you have to the dining-room?”

Edna averted her head, but wrung her fingers nervously.

Mrs. Murray frowned, and continued gravely: 

“Don’t be silly, Edna.  It is proper that you should go to the table, and learn to eat with a fork instead of a knife.  You need not be ashamed to meet people; there is nothing clownish about you unless you affect it.  Good-night; I shall see you at breakfast; the bell rings at eight o’clock.”

There was no escape, and she awoke next morning oppressed with the thought of the ordeal that awaited her.  She dressed herself even more carefully than usual, despite the trembling of her hands; and when the ringing of the little silver bell summoned her to the dining-room, her heart seemed to stand still.  But though exceedingly sensitive and shy, Edna was brave, and even self-possessed, and she promptly advanced to meet the trial.