Another unexpected success awaited her. She had attempted to copy on ivory a miniature of her mother painted by Sir George Hayter. It was in truth only the effort of a learner, and by no means so deserving of praise as her studies of heads and landscapes; yet when Mr. Armstrong produced it, framed and reposing in a velvet-lined morocco case, it obtained for her great commendation.
"Oh, papa," said Mary, blushing deeply when she saw it in his hand, "my painting is not worth all that expense."
"I have had it done to show my approval of your conduct, Mary," said her father, in a low voice.
The flush on her face deepened at the words. Mary Armstrong sought for no greater reward than her father's approving smile.
"Well, brother Armstrong," said Colonel Herbert an hour afterwards, when the party were about to separate, "I must congratulate you on the success of your plans. If you are as much satisfied with Mary's exploits in the domestic line as we are with her in other respects, you have no reason to complain of failure."
And thus armed at all points but one for contact with the world, Mary Armstrong passed from girlhood to womanhood without a care for the future.
CHAPTER VII.
FREDDY'S NEW SCHOOL.
More than three years have passed since Mary's probation ended so pleasantly, and they have very much changed her father.