'"They were two sisters of one race,
She was the fairest in the face,"'
sang Mina, as she bounded down-stairs—not disdaining, in spite of her eighteen years, to slide down the last few feet of the banisters; only she took care to see that nobody but Clara was in sight.
It was a very happy breakfast-table, though Leonard, whose classes kept him in town, affected a melancholy mood.
'I have only one piece of advice to give you, Gladys, in addition to my parting blessing,' he said teasingly. 'How much will you give for it?'
'How much is it worth?' she flashed back in a moment, her eyes dancing with fun.
'Untold gold, as you will find if you take it.'
'I can't buy it at the price,' she answered demurely.
'Well, I'll give it for nothing, in gratitude for the peace I shall enjoy this evening. Mamma, mayn't I come down Wednesday nights as well as Fridays?'
'No, my dear, you mayn't,' replied Mrs. Fordyce, shaking her head. 'If you work hard all week, you will enjoy your Saturdays all the more.'
'All right. Papa and I will have high jinks; see if we don't,' said the lad, with a series of little nods towards the newspaper which hid his father's face.