And yet Maude Tracy had in her nature qualities which were to ripen into a noble womanhood.

Truthful and generous, her instincts of right and wrong were very keen, and young as she was she had no respect for anything like deception or trickery.

This her father knew, and his bitterest pang of remorse came from this thought, 'What would Maude say if she knew ?' And it was more for her sake he was sinning than for his own or that of any other.

She was so pretty, or would be when grown to young ladyhood, and the adornments which money could bring would so well become her.
'Maude,' he said at last, 'how would you like to change places with Jerry?
That is, let her come here and live, while we go away and be poor; not quite as she is, but like many people.' 'And not wear a sash, and beads, and buttoned boots every day ?' Maude interrupted him quickly.

'I should not like it at all.