"You must not think of this, my dear friend," said the widow, caressingly. "Only remember how well you are getting. I say nothing of my own poor efforts; but surely Mr. Lee makes up for all deficiencies in our sweet Jessie."
Mrs. Lee's face brightened beautifully. "Oh, yes," she said, "he is with me so much now; you charm him this way, I think."
"Me? Oh! nothing like it. This change in yourself, dear friend, constitutes the charm. You were dropping into such dreary ways, and looked so ill in that eternal white dress; but now that you have consented to brighten it up with ribbons, and pretty French caps, the change is marvellous."
"You think so," was the sweet reply. "I dare say it is true; but Jessie always liked my dress, and she has fine taste."
"But he likes something fresher and more worldly; and one dresses for a husband."
"Yes, yes; and these things do give something bright to the toilet, though Lottie scouts them."
"Well, never mind, so long as he is pleased. We need not trouble ourselves about the opinion of a wild, crazy girl like her, or of that prudish thing, Miss Hyde."
Mrs. Lee drew her hand from the widow's caressing clasp, and sat upright in her chair.
"Oh! don't say a word against Miss Hyde," she protested, with unusual resolution. "She is the dearest, best creature."
"I know, I know," persisted the widow, drawing a quick breath. "She is everything that is good, if she only had the power to make her amiability a little more interesting, and, I may add, useful; but when any person comes into a family to attach herself particularly to one member of it, there is a possibility of her gaining too much influence. I know Miss Hyde is very deserving, but has it never struck you that your daughter's heart lies a little too exclusively with her friend?"