He asks me if I am glad I live at Tracy Park--if I like the pretty things he buys me, and if I should be as happy if I were poor--not real poor, you know, but as we were at Langley before I was born.

I went there with him a few weeks ago for the first time; and oh, my goodness gracious! such a poky little house, with the stairs going right up in the room, and such a tiny, stuffy bedroom! I tried to fancy mamma's scent bottles, and brushes, and combs, and the box for polishing her nails, transported to that room, and her in there with Rosalie dressing her hair.

It made me laugh till I cried, and I think papa did actually cry, for he sat down upon the stairs and turned his head away, and when he looked up his eyes were all wet and red, with such a sorry look in them that I went straight up and kissed him, and asked him playfully if he was crying for the old days when he lived in that house and sold codfish in the store.
'"Yes, Maude," he said.

"I believe I'd give the remainder of my life if I could be put back right here as I was when your uncle Arthur's letter came and turned my head.

Oh, if the years and everything could be blotted out!" 'What do you suppose he meant?
I was frightened, and did not say a word until he asked me those questions I told you about; did I like pretty things?
did I like to live at Tracy Park, and could I bear to be poor and live in the Langley house?
I just told him, 'No, I should not like to live in Langley, that I did like living at Tracy Park, and did like the pretty things which money bought.' '"Then I ought to be content, if my beautiful Maude is so," he said, and the tired look on his face lifted a little.
'He calls me beautiful so often.