He had come home wearing a black cloud on his brow, and intending to be black.

But all that was changed in a moment, and his only thought now was how to give pleasure to this dear one.

It is something to have a niece who brings such credit on the family! Marie as she listened to his praise and his ecstasies, knowing by a sure instinct every turn of his thoughts, tried to take joy to herself in that she had given joy to him.

Though he was her uncle, and had in fact been her master, he was actually the one real friend whom she had made for herself in her life.

There had been a month or two of something more than friendship with George Voss; but she was too wise to look much at that now.