MILLIE'S VICTORY,
 Am I to live with you always ?"
 Where else will you go ?"
 But is there any property ?"
 Miss Conway put her work down with a quiet com-
 posure that made her niece tremble.
 "Millie, you are utterly dependent on me. I will
 clothe and feed you, and give you a home. I only want
 from you obedience and industry. If it wasn't for me,
 you would go into the workhouse. Another thing,
 the Rector asked me yesterday if you might learn with
 his children. I think it waste of time cramming your
 head with knowledge you'll never want; but, I said
 you might. Now, listen to me, the first time you
 disobey me, I will revoke my consent. Remember,
 you are in my charge, and dependent on me. Don't
 let me repent allowing you to waste two hours every
 morning, and don't bring any of your books here; do
 you hear ?"
 "I will try to be good, I will, indeed, aunt. Only
won't you be kind to me sometimes. Won't you love
me a little ?"
 Kind Love! Sentimental nonsense. Your
mother was the same. Always wanting to be praised,
and admired, and fussed over. You won't get it from
me, if you do from your dear friends at the Rectory.
So just put down your work and get the tea, and be
kind enough to be more careful of the butter. Now I
have you to maintain, I must be more economical."
 Millie folded away her work and left the room, her
heart bursting. She ran upstairs to her own room,
and unclasped the little locket she wore, with her
mother's likeness, and kissed it passionately.
 Cruel, cruel!" she sobbed, "to speak of
you so; my dear dead mother. Oh I mamma!
mamma !"