he found opportunity once or twice to exchange thoughts with him.
Indeed, in the course of the two hours, she gave him quite a lesson how
to speak with the eye--an art in which he was a mere child compared with
her.

She conveyed to him that she saw his mother and recognized her; and also
she hoped to know her.

But some of her telegrams puzzled him.

When the gentlemen came up after dinner, she asked him if he would not
present her to his mother.

"Oh, thank you!" said he, naively; and introduced them to each other.

The ladies courtesied with grace, but a certain formality, for they both
felt the importance of the proceeding, and were a little on their guard.

But they had too many safe, yet interesting topics, to be very long at a
loss.

"I should have known you by your picture, Mrs. Little."

"Ah, then I fear it must be faded since I saw it last."

"I think not. But I hope you will soon judge for yourself."

Mrs. Little shook her head. Then she said, graciously, "I hear it is to
you I am indebted that people can see I was once--what I am not now."

Grace smiled, well pleased. "Ah," said she, "I wish you could have
seen that extraordinary scene, and heard dear Mr. Raby. Oh, madam, let
nothing make you believe you have no place in his great heart!"

"Pray, pray, do not speak of that. This is no place. How could I bear
it?" and Mrs. Little began to tremble.

Grace apologized. "How indiscreet I am; I blurt out every thing that is
in my heart."

"And so do I," said Henry, coming to her aid.

"Ah, YOU," said Grace, a little saucily.

"We do not accept you for our pattern, you see. Pray excuse our bad
taste, Harry."

"Oh, excuse ME, Mrs. Little. In some things I should indeed be proud if
I could imitate him; but in others--of course--you know!"

"Yes, I know. My dear, there is your friend Mr. Applethwaite."

"I see him," said Henry, carelessly.

"Yes; but you don't see every thing," said Grace, slyly.

"Not all at once, like you ladies. Bother my friend Applethwaite. Well,
if I must, I must. Here goes--from Paradise to Applethwaite."

He went off, and both ladies smiled, and one blushed; and, to cover her
blush, said, "it is not every son that has the grace to appreciate his
mother so."

Mrs. Little opened her eyes at first, and then made her nearest approach
to a laugh, which was a very broad smile, displaying all her white
teeth. "That is a turn I was very far from expecting," said she.

The