d style, and the love
of money, makes many women at once fastidious and unscrupulous. To
Brandon, Harriett Phillips's conduct appeared ill-bred and mean; he
could not help contrasting her with Elsie Melvlle, and acknowledging
that the latter was the real gentlewoman. He began also to observe a
certain imperiousness in Harriett's manner to Elsie herself, which
struck him as being particularly ungraceful, and the old pity began to
reawake the old love. He had sometimes wished to speak to Alice just a
few words to show that he had not been offended or piqued at her
refusal, but never had had any opportunity, and on this occasion Miss
Harriett did not seem disposed to give him any.

At last, after being in several shops, and turning over innumerable
boxes of ribbons, laces, blondes, flowers, &c., all was purchased that
was required, and even Miss Phillips was perfectly satisfied with the
selection she had made.

"Oh, dear!" said she, looking at her watch, "how late it is! I quite
intended to be in time for luncheon, for we started so early. Morning
is always the best time for shopping--at least, I find I am better
attended to then. But we are too late, and Mrs. Phillips will not wait
for us. We had better have something to eat here, for I am very
hungry--so, Mr. Brandon, I trust you to find some place where we can
make a comfortable luncheon; I have no doubt you know the best
restaurateur, and afterwards you will get us a cab to go home in. I
like to make gentlemen useful when I take them shopping with me."

"I am quite at your service," said Brandon, "for, as I said before, I
have nothing particular to do."

"That is taking all the grace out of your gallantry," said Miss
Phillips, "but if you acquit yourself well, I will forgive you that
impolite speech."

Brandon did as he was desired--took the ladies to a fashionable
restaurateur's, asked them what they would like, and ordered and paid
for a very good and very expensive luncheon. Then he brought a cab, and
accompanied them home.

"I really wish my brother could keep a carriage of his own," said Miss
Phillips. "That is one of the few extravagances I quite sympathize with
Mrs. Phillips in her desire for. It is so disagreeable to have to trust
to these hired conveyances. One does not know who may have been in them
before, and might catch fever or something of that kind."

"Perhaps one might," said Brandon, "though it never entered my head to
think of such disagreea