MILLIE'S VICTORY.

 "Dead! Papa dead! Oh, mammal my poor
 mamma !"
 Forgetting almost to grieve herself in thinking of
.the desolate wife, Millie sat mechanically down.
 "Has mamma written ? Is there a letter for me ?"
 "No, darling. It is only a few lines from your
 mother to me. She hoped to the last, and would not
 write last mail. Your mother has only you now,
 Millie."
 Poor mamma! Poor mamma!" It was all
 Millie could say.
 About a fortnight after they had received the news
of Mr. Churton's death, Mrs. La Serre and Millie
were in the garden, weeding.
 The sound of the gate being opened made Mrs.
La Serre look up, and she advanced to meet the
visitor-a stranger, a tall, gaunt woman, with a face
all children would instinctively shrink from, and a
hard, repellent voice.
 "I believe Mrs. La Serre lives here ?" she said.
 "I am Mrs. La Serre."
 "Indeed! Millicent is my niece. I am the sister
of her widowed mother."
 "I am very happy to see you, Miss Conway."
 Directly I received your letter, Mrs. La Serre,
my mind was made up as to my duty. My sister has
not treated me well; she has always slighted me, but
I forgive her, I forgive her." Miss Conway said the
words spitefully.
 Shall I call Millie, Miss Conway ? asked gentle
Mrs. La Serre, afraid to argue with this hard woman.
 Not yet. I don't suppose my sister will have
more than forty pounds a-year. That won't maintain
them. They must live with me. I have come to
fetch Millicent, Mrs. La Serre."