ger at him.

"But it wasn't Captain Starr nor Charlie Millar mamma meant. It was Mr
Green."

The cloud vanished from Rosie's face. She laughed and clapped her
hands. Her brothers laughed, too.

"Well done, Rosie," said Arthur. "But from some manoeuvring I observed
last night, I was led to believe that Mrs Grove had other views for the
gentleman."

"So she had," said Fanny, eagerly. "And she says Rose may spoil all if
she divides his attention. It is just what a man of his years is likely
to do, mamma says, to fall in love with a young girl like Rosie, and
Graeme is so much more suitable. But I told mamma Graeme would never
have him."

"Allow me to say, Fanny, that I think you might find some more suitable
subject for discussion with Mrs Grove," said Rose, indignantly. Arthur
laughed.

"You ought to be very thankful for the kind interest taken in your
welfare, and for Graeme's, too. I am sure Mr Green would be highly
flattered if he could be aware of the sensation he is creating among
us."

"Mr Green admires Graeme very much, he told mamma; and mamma says he
would have proposed to her, when he was here before, if it had not been
for Mr Ruthven. You know he was very intimate here then, and everybody
said he and Graeme were engaged. Mamma says it was a great pity he did
not. It would have prevented the remarks of ill-natured people when Mr
Ruthven was married--about Graeme, I mean."

"It is be hoped no one will be ill-natured enough to repeat anything of
that sort in Graeme's hearing," said Arthur, very much annoyed.

"Oh! don't be alarmed. Graeme is too well accustomed by this time, to
Mrs Grove's impertinences, to allow anything she says to trouble her,"
said Rose, with flashing eyes.

Mrs Snow's hand was laid softly on that of the young girl, who had
risen in her indignation.

"Sit down, my dear," she whispered.

"Nonsense, Rosie," said her brother; "there is nothing to be vexed
about. How can you be so foolish?"

"Indeed," said Fanny, a little frightened at the excitement she had
raised, "mamma didn't mean anything that you wouldn't like. She only
thought--"

"We had better say nothing more about it," said Arthur, interrupting
her. "I dare say Graeme can manage her own affairs without help from
other people. But there is nothing to be vexed about, Rosie. Don't put
on a face like that about it, you foolish lassie."

"What is the matter here, good people?" said Graeme, entering at t