Are you very sorry ?" "Yes," she said frankly and truthfully.

"Not so much for myself, but--the children." "Ay, the poor children." Ursula stitched away rapidly for some moments, till the grieved look faded out of her face; then she turned it, all cheerful once more, to her husband.

"Now, John, tell me.

Never mind about the children.

Tell me." He told her, as was his habit at all times, of some losses which had to-day befallen him--bad debts in his business--which would make it, if not impracticable, at least imprudent, to enter on any new expenses that year.