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tuition？
The storm had passed； and the sun was shining quite cheerily in the
eastern recitation room the next morning when Miss Kate； whose seat
was nearest the window； placing her hand pathetically upon her
heart； affected to fall in bashful and extreme agitation upon the
shoulder of Carry； her neighbor。 〃HE has come；〃 she gasped in a
thrilling whisper。 〃Who？〃 asked Carry sympathetically； who never
clearly understood when Kate was in earnest。 〃Who？Why； the man
who rescued us last night！ I saw him drive to the door this
moment。 Don't speak； I shall be better in a momentthere！〃 she
said； and the shameless hypocrite passed her hand pathetically
across her forehead with a tragic air。
〃What can he want？〃 asked Carry； whose curiosity was excited。 〃I
don't know；〃 said Kate； suddenly relapsing into gloomy cynicism。
〃Possibly to put his five daughters to school； perhaps to finish
his young wife； and warn her against us。〃
〃He didn't look old； and he didn't seem like a married man；〃
rejoined Addy thoughtfully。
〃That was his art； you poor creature！〃 returned Kate scornfully。
〃You can never tell anything of these men； they are so deceitful。
Besides； it's just my fate！〃
〃Why； Kate；〃 began Carry； in serious concern。
〃Hush！ Miss Walker is saying something；〃 said Kate； laughing。
〃The young ladies will please give attention；〃 said a slow；
perfunctory voice。 〃Miss Carry Tretherick is wanted in the
parlor。〃
Meantime Mr。 Jack Prince； the name given on the card； and various
letters and credentials submitted to the Rev。 Mr。 Crammer； paced
the somewhat severe apartment known publicly as the 〃reception
parlor〃 and privately to the pupils as 〃purgatory。〃 His keen eyes
had taken in the various rigid details； from the flat steam
〃radiator；〃 like an enormous japanned soda cracker； that heated one
end of the room to the monumental bust of Dr。 Crammer that
hopelessly chilled the other； from the Lord's Prayer； executed by a
former writing master in such gratuitous variety of elegant
calligraphic trifling as to abate considerably the serious value of
the composition； to three views of Genoa from the Institute； which
nobody ever recognized； taken on the spot by the drawing teacher；
from two illuminated texts of Scripture in an English letter； so
gratuitously and hideously remote as to chill all human interest；
to a large photograph of the senior class； in which the prettiest
girls were Ethiopian in complexion； and sat； apparently； on each
other's heads and shoulders。 His fingers had turned listlessly the
leaves of school…catalogues； the SERMONS of Dr。 Crammer； the POEMS
of Henry Kirke White； the LAYS OF THE SANCTUARY and LIVES OF
CELEBRATED WOMEN。 His fancy； and it was a nervously active one；
had gone over the partings and greetings that must have taken place
here； and wondered why the apartment had yet caught so little of
the flavor of humanity； indeed； I am afraid he had almost forgotten
the object of his visit when the door opened； and Carry Tretherick
stood before him。
It was one of those faces he had seen the night before； prettier
even than it had seemed then； and yet I think he was conscious of
some disappointment； without knowing exactly why。 Her abundant
waving hair was of a guinea…golden tint； her complexion of a
peculiar flowerlike delicacy； her brown eyes of the color of
seaweed in deep water。 It certainly was not her beauty that
disappointed him。
Without possessing his sensitiveness to impression； Carry was； on
her part； quite as vaguely ill at ease。 She saw before her one of
those men whom the sex would vaguely generalize as 〃nice；〃 that is
to say； correct in all the superficial appointments of style；
dress； manners； and feature。 Yet there was a decidedly
unconventional quality about him： he was totally unlike anything or
anybody that she could remember； and as the attributes of
originality are often as apt to alarm as to attract people； she was
not entirely prepossessed in his favor。
〃I can hardly hope；〃 he began pleasantly； 〃that you remember me。
It is eleven years ago； and you were a very little girl。 I am
afraid I cannot even claim to have enjoyed that familiarity that
might exist between a child of six and a young man of twenty…one。
I don't think I was fond of children。 But I knew your mother very
well。 I was editor of the AVALANCHE in Fiddletown when she took
you to San Francisco。〃
〃You mean my stepmother； she wasn't my mother； you know；〃
interposed Carry hastily。
Mr。 Prince looked at her curiously。 〃I mean your stepmother；〃 he
said gravely。 〃I never had the pleasure of meeting your mother。〃
〃No； MOTHER hasn't been in California these twelve years。〃
There was an intentional emphasizing of the title and of its
distinction that began to interest coldly Prince after his first
astonishment was past。
〃As I come from your stepmother now；〃 he went on with a slight
laugh； 〃I must ask you to go back for a few moments to that point。
After your father's death； your motherI mean your stepmother
recognized the fact that your mother； the first Mrs。 Tretherick；
was legally and morally your guardian and； although much against
her inclination and affections； placed you again in her charge。〃
〃My stepmother married again within a month after father died； and
sent me home；〃 said Carry with great directness； and the faintest
toss of her head。
Mr。 Prince smiled so sweetly； and apparently so sympathetically；
that Carry began to like him。 With no other notice of the
interruption he went on； 〃After your stepmother had performed this
act of simple justice； she entered into an agreement with your
mother to defray the expenses of your education until your
eighteenth year； when you were to elect and choose which of the two
should thereafter be your guardian； and with whom you would make
your home。 This agreement； I think； you are already aware of； and；
I believe； knew at the time。〃
〃I was a mere child then；〃 said Carry。
〃Certainly；〃 said Mr。 Prince； with the same smile。 〃Still the
conditions； I think； have never been oppressive to you nor your
mother； and the only time they are likely to give you the least
uneasiness will be when you come to make up your mind in the choice
of your guardian。 That will be on your eighteenth birthdaythe
twentieth； I think； of the present month。〃
Carry was silent。
〃Pray do not think that I am here to receive your decision； even if
it be already made。 I only came to inform you that your
stepmother； Mrs。 Starbottle； will be in town tomorrow； and will
pass a few days at the hotel。 If it is your wish to see her before
you make up your mind； she will be glad to meet you。 She does not；
however； wish to do anything to influence your judgment。
〃Does Mother know she is coming？〃 said Carry hastily。
〃I do not know；〃 said Prince gravely。 〃I only know that if you
conclude to see Mrs。 Starbo