the office, Nellie returned to her visitors, who
began to rally her concerning the important letter which must be
answered.

"Now, coz," said Durward, pulling her down upon the sofa by his side,
"now, coz, I claim a right to know something about this letter. Was
it one of acceptance or rejection?"

"Acceptance, of course," answered Nellie, who, knowing no good reason
why her intended tour should be kept a secret, proceeded to speak of
it, telling how they were to visit Scotland, France, Switzerland, and
Italy, and almost forgetting, in her enthusiasm, how wretched the
thought of the journey made her.

"And Miss Wilbur's brother is to be your escort--he is unmarried, I
believe?" said Durward, looking steadily upon the carpet.

In a moment Nellie would have told of his engagement, and the object
of his going, but she remembered Mary's request in time, and the
blush which the almost committed mistake called to her cheek, was
construed by all into a confession that there was something between
her and Mr. Wilbur.

"That accounts for John's sudden churlishness," thought 'Lena,
wondering how Nellie could have deceived him so.

"Oh, I see it all," exclaimed Mabel. "I understand now what has made
Nellie so absent-minded and restless these many days. She was making
up her mind to become Mrs. Wilbur, while I fancied she was offended
with me."

"I don't know what you mean," answered Nellie, without smiling in the
least. "Mary Wilbur wishes me to accompany her to Europe, and I
intend doing so. Her brother is nothing to me, nor ever will be."

"Quite a probable story," thought Mr. Everett, without forming his
reflections into words.

Toward the middle of the afternoon, a violent ringing of the
door-bell, and a heavy tramp in the hall, announced some new arrival,
and Nellie was about opening the parlor door, when who should appear
but John Jr.! From his room he had watched the departure of the
party, one moment wishing he was with them, and the next declaring
he'd never go to Frankfort again so long as he lived! At length
inclination getting the ascendency of his reason, he mounted
Firelock, and rushing furiously down the 'pike, never once slackened
his speed until the city was in sight.

"I dare say she'll think me a fool," thought he, "tagging her round,
but she needn't worry. I only want to show her how little her pranks
affect me."

With these thoughts he could not fail to meet Nellie otherwise than
coldly,