He felt a strange satisfaction in familiarly pouring out his confidences to this superior woman, whom he had always held in awe.

There was a new delight in her womanly interest in his trials and adventures, and a subtle pleasure even in her half-motherly criticism and admonition of some passages.

I am afraid he forgot Susy, who listened with the complacency of an exhibitor; Mary, whose black eyes dilated alternately with sympathy for the performer and deprecation of Mrs.Peyton's critical glances; and Peyton, who, however, seemed lost in thought, and preoccupied.

Clarence was happy.

The softly shaded lights in the broad, spacious, comfortably furnished drawing-room shone on the group before him.