tle sketch a parable, and wait for the exposition thereof.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. FALLING IN LOVE
II. WHAT SHE THINKS OF IT
III. THE SISTER
IV. PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE
V. WEDDING, AND WEDDING-TRIP
VI. HONEY-MOON, AND AFTER
VII. WILL SHE LIKE IT?
VIII. SPINDLEWOOD
IX. A CRISIS
X. CHANGES
XI. NEWPORT; OR, THE PARADISE OF NOTHING TO DO
XII. HOME A LA POMPADOUR
XIII. JOHN'S BIRTHDAY
XIV. A GREAT MORAL CONFLICT
XV. THE FOLLINGSBEES ARRIVE
XVI. MRS. JOHN SEYMOUR'S PARTY, AND WHAT CAME OF IT
XVII. AFTER THE BATTLE
XVIII. A BRICK TURNS UP
XIX. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE
XX. THE VAN ASTRACHANS
XXI. MRS. FOLLINGSBEE'S PARTY, AND WHAT CAME OF IT
XXII. THE SPIDER-WEB BROKEN
XXIII. COMMON-SENSE ARGUMENTS
XXIV. SENTIMENT _v_. SENSIBILITY
XXV. WEDDING BELLS
XXVI. MOTHERHOOD
XXVII. CHECKMATE
XXVIII. AFTER THE STORM
XXIX. THE NEW LILLIE

CHAPTER I.

_FALLING IN LOVE_.

[Illustration: LILLIE.]

"Who _is_ that beautiful creature?" said John Seymour, as a light,
sylph-like form tripped up the steps of the veranda of the hotel where
he was lounging away his summer vacation.

"That! Why, don't you know, man? That is the celebrated, the divine
Lillie Ellis, the most adroit 'fisher of men' that has been seen in
our days."

"By George, but she's pretty, though!" said John, following with
enchanted eyes the distant motions of the sylphide.

The vision that he saw was of a delicate little fairy form; a
complexion of pearly white, with a cheek of the hue of a pink shell;
a fair, sweet, infantine face surrounded by a fleecy radiance of soft
golden hair. The vision appeared to float in some white gauzy robes;
and, when she spoke or smiled, what an innocent, fresh, untouched,
unspoiled look there was upon the face! John gazed, and thought of all
sorts of poetical similes: of a "daisy just wet with morning dew;" of
a "violet by a mossy stone;" in short, of all the things that poets
have made and provided for the use of young gentlemen in the way of
falling in love.

This John Seymour was about as good and honest a man as there is going
in this world of ours. He was a generous, just, manly, religious young
fellow. He was heir to a large, solid property; he was a well-read
lawyer, established in a flourishing business; he was a man that all
the world spoke well of, and had cause to speak well of. The only
duty to society which John had left as yet un