I s'pose for always--to help your mother with the lodgers." "Are you?
How nice! I am so glad," cried Charlie; "then you'll be able to come and talk to me sometimes." "I am not glad," said Jessie, with a quaver in her voice; "but I should like to come and talk to you as often as I can." Then presently she added, in a conflicting tone, "I don't know what to call your mother.

I don't like to say 'Mrs.Lang,' it seems so-- so silly and--stuck-up, and I don't like to call her 'mother,' because, you see, she isn't mine at all, really." "I should," said Charlie decidedly.

"I have to call your father 'father,' though I hate to.

I don't like him.

I hate him--he's-- he's unkind to mother!" and the pale face flushed and the sad eyes filled with the strength of other feeling.
"Oh!" exclaimed Jessie, "you ought not to speak like that, I am sure.
Why do you ha--why don't you like him ?" "'Cause he's so unkind to mother.