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n studying it all out in these coals。 I know all about itit is about the mountain girl； thiswhat do you call her？〃
〃Miss Grant。〃
〃Nonsense！ What do YOU call her？〃
〃Madge。〃
〃Ah； that's something like it。 And you love her？〃
〃Yes。〃 （Pianissimo。）
〃And she loves you？〃
〃YES。〃 （Forte。）
〃And you have told her so？〃
〃YES！〃 （Fortissimo。）
〃Whew！〃 Miss Clendenning caught her breath and gave a little gasp。 〃Well； upon my word！ You don't seem to have lost any time； my young Romeo。 What does her father say？〃
〃He doesn't know anything about it。〃
〃Does anybody except you two babes in the wood？〃
〃Yes； her mother。〃
〃And yours？ You told her last night。 I knew you would。〃
〃Not everything； but she is all upset。〃
〃Of course she is。 So am I。 Now tell meis she a LADY？〃
〃She is the dearest； sweetest girl you〃
〃Come now； come now； answer me。 They are all the dearest and sweetest things in the world。 What I want to know is； is she a lady？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃True now； Olliehonest？〃
〃Yes； in every sense of the word。 A woman you would love and be proud of the moment you saw her。〃
Miss Clendenning took his face in her hands and looked down into his eyes。 〃I believe you。 Now what do you want me to do？〃
〃I want her to come down here so everybody can see her。 If I had a sister she could invite her； and it would be all right； and maybe then her mother would let her come。〃
〃And you want me to play the sister and have her come here？〃
Oliver's fingers closed tight over Miss Clendenning's hand。 〃Oh； Midget； if you only would； that would fix everything。 Mother would understand then why I love her； and Madge could go back and tell her people about us。 Her father is very bitter against everybody at the South。 They would feel differently if Madge could stay a week with us。〃
〃Why won't her father bring her？〃
〃He never leaves home。 He would not even take her to the mountains； fifteen miles away。 She could never paint as she does if she had relied upon him。 Mother and Mr。 Grant are both alike in their hatred of art as a fitting profession for anybody； and I tell you that they are both wrong。〃
Miss Clendenning looked up in surprise。 She had never seen the boy take a stand of this kind against one of his mother's opinions。 Oliver saw the expression on the little lady's face and kept on； his cheeks flushed and a set look about his eyes。
〃Yes； wrong。 I have never believed mother could be wrong in anything before； and when she wanted me to give up painting I did so because I thought she knew best。 But I know she's not right about Madge； and if she is wrong about her； how do I know she was not wrong about my working with Mr。 Crocker？〃
Margaret's words that day in the bark slant were now ringing in his ears。 He had never forgotten them〃Your mother cannot coddle you up forever。〃
Miss Clendenning held her peace。 She was not astonished at the revolt in the boy's mind。 She had seen for months past in his letters that Oliver's individuality was asserting itself。 It was the new girl whom he was defendingthe woman he loved。 This had given him strength。 She knew something of what he felt； and she knew what blind obedience had done for her。 With a half…smothered sigh； she reached over Oliver's head； dipped a quill pen in her inkstand； and at Oliver's dictation； wrote Margaret's address。
〃I will invite her at once；〃 she said。
Long after Oliver had gone Miss Clendenning sat looking into the fire。 The palaces of rose and amber that the busy fingers of the fire fairies had built up in the white heat of their enthusiasm were in ruins。 The light had gone out。 Only gray ashes remained； with here and there a dead cinder。
Miss Clendenning rose from her chair； stood a moment in deep thought； and said； aloud：
〃If she loves him； she shall have him。 There shall be no more desolate firesides if I can help it。〃
Early the next morning； she mailed by the first post a letter so dainty in form and so delicate in color that only a turtle…dove should have carried it to Brookfleld Farm； and have dropped it into Margaret's hand。 This billet…doux began by inviting Miss Margaret Grant of Brookfield Farm to pass a week with Miss Lavinia Clendenning； of Kennedy Square； she； Miss Lavinia； desiring to know the better one who had so charmed and delighted 〃our dear Oliver；〃 and ended with 〃Please say to your good mother； that I am twice your age； and will take as much care of you as if you were my own daughter。 I feel assured she will waive all ceremony when she thinks of how warm a greeting awaits you。〃
Margaret looked at the post…mark； and then at the little oval of violet wax bearing the crest of the Clendenningsgranted in the time of Queen Elizabeth for distinguished services to the Throneand after she had read it to her mother； and had shown the seal to her father； who had put on his glasses； scanned it closely； and tossed it back to her with a dry laugh； and after she had talked it all over with John； who said it was certainly very kind of the woman； and that Oliver's people were evidently 〃nobs；〃 but； of course； Madge couldn't go； not knowing any of them； Margaret took a sheet of plain white paper from her desk； thanked Miss Clendenning for her kind thought of her； and declined the honor in a firm； round hand。 This she closed with a red wafer； and then； with a little bridling of her head and a determined look in her face； she laid the letter on the gate…post； ready for the early stage in the morning。
This missive was duly received by Miss Clendenning； and read at once to Mrs。 Horn； who raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips in deep thought。 After some moments she looked over her glasses at Miss Lavinia and said：
〃I must say； Lavinia； I am very greatly astonished。 Won't come？ She has done perfectly right。 I think all the better of her for it。 Really； there may be something in the girl after all。 Let me look at her handwriting againwrites like a woman of some force。 Won't come？ What do you think； Lavinia？〃
〃Merely a question of grandmothers； my dear； she seems to have had one； too；〃 answered the little old maid； with a quizzical smile in her eye； as she folded the letter and slipped it in her pocket。
CHAPTER XVIII
THE LAST HOURS OF A CIVILIZATION
Margaret's decision saddened Oliver's last days at home； and he returned to New York with none of his former buoyancy。 Here other troubles began to multiply。 Before the autumn was gone； Morton； Slade & Co。； unable longer to make headway against the financial difficulties that beset them； went to the wall； involving many of their fellow…merchants。 Oliver lost his situation； in consequence； and was forced to support himself during the long dreary winter by making lithographic drawings for Bianchi； at prices that barely paid his board。 His loneliness in the garret room became more intense； Fred being much away and the occupants of the other rooms being either strangers to him or so uncongenial that he would not make their acquaintance。
To his own troubles were added other anxieties。 The political outlook had become even more gloomy than the financial。 The roar of Sumter's guns had reverberated throughout the land； and men of all minds were holding their breath and listening； with ears to the ground； for the sound of the next shot。 Even Margaret's letters were full of foreboding。 〃Father is more bitter against the South than ever；〃 she wrote。 〃He says if he had ten sons each should shoulder a musket。 We must wait； Ollie dear。 I can only talk to mother about you。 Father won't listen； and I never mention your name before him。 Not because it is you； Ollie； but because you represent a class whom he hates。 Dear John would listen； but he is still in Boston。 Even his fellow…classmen want to fight； he says。 I fear all this will hurt my work； and keep me from painting。〃
These letters of Margaret's； sad as they were； were his greatest and sometimes his only comfort。 She knew his ups and downs and they must have no secrets from each other。 From his mother； however； he kept all records of his privations during these troublous months。 Neither his father nor his dear mother must deprive themselves for his benefit。
During these dreary days he often longed for Kennedy Square and for those whom he loved； but it was not until one warm spring day； when the grass was struggling into life； and the twigs on the scraggy trees in Union Square were growing pink and green with impatient buds and leaves that he had his wish。 Then a startling telegram summoned him。 It read as follows：
〃Father ill。 Come at once。
〃Mother〃
Instinctively Oliver felt in his pockets for his purse。 There was just money enough to take him to Kennedy Square and back。
His mother met him at the door。
〃It was only a fainting turn； my son；〃 were her first words。 〃I am sorry I sent for you。 Your father is himself again； so Dr。 Wallace says。 He has been working too hard latelysometimes far into the night。 I could have stopped you from coming； but； somehow； I wanted you〃 and she held him close in her arms； and laid her cheek against his。 〃I get so lonely； my boy； and feel so helpless sometimes。〃
The weak and strong were changing places。 She felt the man in him now。
Nathan was in