or we could never have indulged in foolish jesting over so
solemn a truth."

Ben Phillips gave vent to his astonishment in words:

"Tode, how on earth did you learn French?"

Dora laughed lightly.

"He studied, I presume," she said, merrily. "And that you know is what
_you_ never would do, Ben. Mr. Mallery, suppose you come and decipher
for me the motto underneath the French scene in the further parlor."

And taking Tode's offered arm the daughter of the millionaire moved down
the long parlor by his side. Mr. Birge, coming at that moment from the
dining-room, passed the two, then turning back sought his wife to say:

"The experiment has succeeded. Theodore is promenading with Dora
Hastings."

"The _splendid_ girl!" said Mrs. Birge, energetically. "I knew she
would."

Meantime Theodore had resolved on a bold stroke for the Master.

"Do you remember anything connected with that verse, Miss Hastings?" he
asked, as the two entered the almost deserted back parlor.

"Indeed I do," Dora answered, eagerly. "I never forgot it, and your
earnest questions about it, and I could tell you so little."

"I found out a great deal about it, though, taking the information that
you gave me for a starting point, and I have reason to thank God that
you ever showed me your little card. But do you know anything more of
the matter now, experimentally I mean?"

Dora's voice trembled a little as she answered:

"I think--I--sometimes I hope I do. I am trying to learn a little,
stumbling along slowly, with oh _so_ many drawbacks; and do you know I
think my interest in these things dates back to that stormy evening in
prayer-meeting, when you asked me such queer questions? At least I
thought them queer then."

No more standing aloof during that evening for Theodore Mallery. It
mattered little how his clothes were cut or of what material they were
made; so long as Dora Hastings walked through the rooms and chatted
familiarly with him, not a girl present but stood ready to follow her
example.

Later in the evening Dora said to him, hesitatingly and almost timidly:

"Mr. Mallery, I don't like you to think that I was making sport of that
Bible verse. I truly know almost nothing about French, and I didn't
take, the sense of it in the least until you read it."

There was another thing that the young man was very anxious to know, and
that was whether her motive was mischief or kind intent when she called
on him; and like the straightfo