iseration for the nieces.

"Oh, Jane," said she, "is it not dreadful to be brought before the
public in this way; everybody must be talking about us, and of course
everybody has got hold of the story of William Dalzell and you too. I
am glad they did not put that in the newspapers, at any rate. Every one
will think that he gave you up, and will fancy you are so distressed
about it."

"We cannot help either what people think or what they say. I do not
wonder at the COURIER making a long paragraph on the subject, for they
have not had such an interesting piece of local news since Mr. Fisher
committed suicide."

"I do not like the appearance of my own name in print," said Elsie.

"It is a very pretty name, nevertheless, and would look as well on the
title-page of a book as any I know--only in a newspaper you do not like
it," said Jane. "I must bid you good-bye for a few hours now, for I am
going to Miss Thomson's. I am going to ride, and will not be very long."

Miss Thomson had just taken up the local newspaper after her morning
ride over the farm, and had read the peculiarly interesting paragraph
relating to Mr. Hogarth's will, when Mrs. Dalzell's note was put into
her hands, and Miss Melville was announced.

Miss Thomson was a very fine-looking old lady, with keen, though also
kind grey eyes, looking out from rather shaggy eyebrows, and an open
frank smile on her mouth. The colour of health still bloomed on a cheek
that had seen sixty summers and winters, and the elasticity of youth
had only been transformed into the dignity and repose of a green old
age. It is better to be at the head of the commonalty than dragging in
the rear of the gentry, and for substantial comfort, liberal
housekeeping, generous almsgiving, and frank hospitality, the farmhouse
of Allendale was out and out superior to the mansion of Moss Tower,
where the Dalzells had lived for at least two centuries.

As Mrs. Dalzell's note had been introductory and not explanatory, Miss
Thomson could not guess the cause of the unexpected visit. She,
however, kindly welcomed Miss Melville, and asked her to sit down,
which Jane did with an ease and youthful dignity that was as suitable
to her time of life as Miss Thomson's at three-score.

"I have called, madam," said Jane, "because I have always admired you,
and wished to know you; and also because at this critical juncture I
have thought that your advice would be far more valuable to me than
that of peop