y master, and besides, these are very different times."

"We seem to have changed sides on that subject," she said, with a merry
little laugh, as she laid the brush away, and standing behind his chair,
put her arms around his neck and laid her cheek to his.

He drew her round to a seat upon his knee. "Darling, I don't mean to play
the tyrant, and am quite ashamed of some things I said last night."

"Then you won't say them any more, will you? I was really afraid you were
turning into a horrid tyrant. Oh, you haven't told me who the visitors are
who came in the carriage with you!"

"The daughter and niece of an old friend of my father's, Miss Fanny Deane
and Miss Susie Fleming."

"How long are they likely to stay?"

"I don't know; probably two or three weeks."

"You asked what I'd been doing. Studying hard part of the time, that I
might please this old tutor of mine," giving him another tug. "Will you be
pleased to hear me recite now?"

"There would not be time before tea, dear," he said, consulting his watch;
"so we will put it off till later in the evening. Come down to the
drawing-room with me and let me introduce you to the ladies."

"Very well; but first tell me if my toilet satisfies you."

He gave her a scrutinizing glance. "Entirely; you are as lovely as a
fairy," he said, with a proud, fond smile.

"Oh, you flatterer!" she returned with a pleased laugh, and slipping her
hand into his.

"Your wife!" exclaimed both ladies when the introduction was over. "She
looks so young!"

"So _very_ young that I should have taken her for a school-girl," added
Miss Deane, with a condescending smile that enraged Zoe.

"And I take you for an old maid of twenty-five," was her mental retort. "I
dare say you'd be glad enough to be as young as I am, and to have such a
handsome husband." But she merely made a demure little courtesy and
withdrew to a seat beside her mother-in-law on the farther side of the
room, her heightened color and flashing eyes alone telling how indignant
she felt.

"Never mind, dear, you are growing older every day," Elsie said in a
soothing undertone, "and are just the right age for Edward. We all think
that, and I that you are a dear little daughter for me."

"Thank you, dear mamma," whispered Zoe. "I think it was very rude and
unkind to liken me to a school-girl. I believe it was just because she
envies me my youth and my husband."

"Perhaps so," Elsie said, with difficulty restraining a s