"HOW happy Muriel looks, and how much she appears to like her stepmother! I am sure I hope they will continue on such good terms with each other."
The speaker was Miss Pamela Holcroft, as she sat at breakfast with her sister, and niece, and Molly Jenkins.
Several days had passed since the unexpected arrival of Mr. Wake and his bride. The couple still lingered at Boscombe, though they talked of leaving shortly.
"I daresay they will be good friends," Miss Holcroft responded. "I like Mrs. Wake, don't you, Pamela?"
"Yes; she seems a sensible young woman. I had a long chat with her on the beach yesterday, and she talked a great deal of Muriel. I believe she means to do her duty to the child; I think, too, she realises she has been neglected at home."
"Poor Marigold has been rather overlooked by her friend of late, I fear," Miss Holcroft said. "I hope you are not jealous, my dear?" turning a smiling glance on her little niece.
"No, indeed! I am so glad Muriel likes Mrs. Wake."
"I confess I am rather surprised that she does," Miss Pamela remarked. "I should have thought a stepmother would have aroused her jealousy at once."
"Ah, but you see she never knew her own mother," Miss Holcroft interposed; "and I don't think she is fond enough of her father to fear being supplanted in his affections by another person. It may be that through the stepmother, father and child will be drawn closer together. Mrs. Wake told me she should try to persuade her husband not to remain abroad long; we shall see if she has sufficient influence over him to obtain her desire. He has been a rolling stone for so many years that it will be difficult for him to settle down quietly at home."
"He seems a very nice gentleman," Molly put in, in her gentle tones. "He talked to me for quite a long while yesterday, and helped me across the rough ridge of pebbles on the beach."