understand how you find courage to speak to me at all."

He went up the hill in high spirits, and found the carriage at the door
and King, Mr. Langham, and Miss Langham sitting waiting for him. They
were ready to depart, and Miss Langham had but just seated herself in
the carriage when they heard hurrying across the tiled floor a quick,
light step and the rustle of silk, and turning they saw Hope standing
in the doorway, radiant and smiling. She wore a white frock that
reached to the ground, and that left her arms and shoulders bare. Her
hair was dressed high upon her head, and she was pulling vigorously at
a pair of long, tan-colored gloves. The transformation was so
complete, and the girl looked so much older and so stately and
beautiful, that the two young men stared at her in silent admiration
and astonishment.

"Why, Hope!" exclaimed her sister. "What does this mean?"

Hope stopped in some alarm, and clasped her hair with both hands.

"What is it?" she asked; "is anything wrong?"

"Why, my dear child," said her sister, "you're not thinking of going
with us, are you?"

"Not going?" echoed the younger sister, in dismay. "Why, Alice, why
not? I was asked."

"But, Hope-- Father," said the elder sister, stepping out of the
carriage and turning to Mr. Langham, "you didn't intend that Hope
should go, did you? She's not out yet."

"Oh, nonsense," said Hope, defiantly. But she drew in her breath
quickly and blushed, as she saw the two young men moving away out of
hearing of this family crisis. She felt that she was being made to
look like a spoiled child. "It doesn't count down here," she said,
"and I want to go. I thought you knew I was going all the time. Marie
made this frock for me on purpose."

"I don't think Hope is old enough," the elder sister said, addressing
her father, "and if she goes to dances here, there's no reason why she
should not go to those at home."

"But I don't want to go to dances at home," interrupted Hope.

Mr. Langham looked exceedingly uncomfortable, and turned appealingly to
his elder daughter. "What do you think, Alice?" he said, doubtfully.

"I'm sorry," Miss Langham replied, "but I know it would not be at all
proper. I hate to seem horrid about it, Hope, but indeed you are too
young, and the men here are not the men a young girl ought to meet."

"You meet them, Alice," said Hope, but pulling off her gloves in token
of defeat.

"But, my dear child, I'm fifty ye