I declare, I"-- and she stopped, as though about to suggest that Helen should adopt a child at once.

Mrs.Dale usually blamed John and Helen with equal impartiality, but to-day the fault seemed to belong entirely to her niece.

She was very much puzzled to know how she was to "make excuses" without telling an untruth.

"I'll just speak to Giff about it," she thought; "it all depends on the way Deborah Woodhouse hears it, and Giff is really quite sensible, and can advise me what to tell her." She saw him that afternoon, but, as she said afterwards in reluctant confidence to her husband, "Giff hasn't much sense, after all.

He thought it was best to just tell the truth about it." "Yes ?" responded Mr.Dale.