Jewel Weed

"And that, even if it is true, may be only the result of sordid

surroundings." Madeline's heart misgave her, for she had learned to

respect Mrs. Percival's judgments. "She'll blossom out and add

womanliness to beauty in such an atmosphere as you and Dick will give

her."

"Spontaneous generation will not do everything. You must have the germ

of a heart before you can develop the whole thing. Do you think you can

really change a girl who has lived for twenty years in the wrong

attitude?"

"You are judging cruelly," Madeline cried. "Of course every one has the

germs of good."

"And did it ever occur to you that the kind of love that Dick will give

his wife may be too good--so far above a coarse-grained woman that it

will not touch her comprehension? A lower grade of man might bring her

out better."

"It's impossible to think of so exquisite a creature being

coarse-grained," Madeline exclaimed. "I, for one, am going to believe in

her, and in a year, with you and Dick and mother and Mrs. Lenox and

myself all backing her, you'll be proud of her loveliness and tact. I

shall be only Cinderella's ugly sister. But you must not ever quite

forget me, Mrs. Percival." And Madeline laughed most cheerfully.

Mrs. Percival smiled in return. "Well, I have had my explosion. It's

extraordinary what a relief it is, once in a while. I'm not often so

guilty, am I, Madeline? After all, I've told you my fears rather than my

convictions. The situation does not seem so bad, now that I have said

even more than I think. Hereafter I shall find it easy to hold my

tongue."

"And you will try to like her?" Madeline asked anxiously.

"Of course, my dear. I shall try harder than any one else. I am going in

state to pay her a motherly call this very afternoon, feeling all the

time like a plated volcano." Mrs. Percival leaned back with a small

moue, then sat up again. "There's my boy's latch-key in the

lock now," she said.

Dick halted at the door when he saw the two and knew that they must have

been talking of him. He had something of an air of defiance thickly

overlaid with innocence; but Madeline went to meet him with hands

outstretched.

"Dick," she exclaimed, "I congratulate you with all my heart. She's the

prettiest creature in the world."

Dick, manlike, regarded this as the highest possible tribute to his

beloved and glowed in return. His defiance dropped like a shell and he

shook Madeline's hands with enthusiasm.

"You're a trump," he said. "I shall not forget how good you have been to

her; and I hope you two will always be friends."

"I should think so! I should like to see your trying to prevent us,

Dick," said Madeline saucily. "And your mother is going to love her,

too, when--"