aste--just your sort,
in fact. He is a great friend of Miss Melville's, though I fancy, Miss
Alice, that you do not care so much for him."

"I like him very much indeed, though I was longer in doing him justice
than Jane was. The circumstances of our first introduction were very
painful," said Elsie.

"If he is a friend of your sister's, that is quite enough for me," said
Harriett. "I do not think I ever met with any one so congenial to my
tastes as Miss Melville is. Ladies are so superficial nowadays; their
education is all for show, and nothing solid or thorough in it. My dear
father was so careful to give us a thoroughly good education. It is
very seldom that we meet with any one so well grounded as Miss Melville
is. It is a good thing for my nieces that Stanley met with her. Your
uncle MUST have meant that you should teach, Alice."

"Did Dr. Phillips mean that you should teach?" said Brandon, bluntly.

"No, no, certainly; but Miss Melville has learned so much that is quite
valueless except in teaching--oh! a great many things quite out of the
way; but I meant that the groundwork was the same. Poor Alice! all this
odd training was thrown away on you."

"Not thrown away," said Brandon, firmly. "If it were not for Miss
Alice's diffidence she would soon let you know how much she has
profited by it. You should hear Peggy Walker on that subject."

"I am quite charmed with the estimation in which both you and my
brother hold that wonderful woman," said Miss Harriett,
condescendingly. "Stanley is quite enthusiastic about Peggy."

"And so am I, and with as good reason. Your brother owes her much, but
I think I owe her more."

"More!" said Harriett; "oh! I see. Peggy nursed and saved the lives of
Emily and little Harry, and perhaps of Mrs. Phillips, too, and my
brother is greatly indebted to her; but I suppose she nursed your
precious self through an illness all but mortal, so you are still more
grateful. I know that you gentlemen think a great deal of number one. I
understand the thing clearly."

Walter Brandon paused a minute. "No, it is not that, Miss Phillips; but
Peggy raised my opinion of all women. Her courage, her devotion, her
self-denial, and her truthfulness made me think more highly of all her
sex; and if ever I am blessed with a wife she will have cause to
cherish the memory of that homely Scotchwoman."

"To think that a gentleman who had a mother and sisters, should need
such a lesson from a woman li