w. Mr. Dale is a friend of mine and
comes to the house by permission. There is no possibility of an
engagement between us."

"An engagement! I should hope not. Do you consider yourself qualified to
enter upon the cares and responsibilities of married life?"

"I have already said that I have no intention of getting married."

"Getting married! Why, the child is crazy. You talk of matrimony as if
it were as simple a proceeding as changing your dress or going to a
party."

"Some people would appear to find it so," I answered, goaded to
impertinence.

But Aunt Agnes apparently did not perceive my innuendo. "I dare say,"
said she with asperity. "That is because there are so many fools in the
world."

We sat in silence for some minutes. My aunt was so much excited that I
could see her hands tremble as she put the obnoxious cutting back into
her porte-monnaie. All of a sudden she looked at me over her glasses and
said,--

"I am willing to give you one more chance, Virginia."

I waited for her to continue.

"If you choose to take advantage of it, well and good. If not, you must
go your own ways. I am not going to make my life a burden over you any
longer. If you prefer to be giddy and foolish, let those take the
responsibility who have encouraged you to become so. No one shall blame
me."

"You know, Aunt Agnes, I wish to be nothing of the sort."

"Very well, then. I propose to pass the summer in Europe, and it strikes
me as an excellent opportunity for you to cut adrift from the
objectionable associations you have formed during the past few months.
With a fresh start, and surroundings calculated to inspire in you a
desire for self-improvement, it will not be too late to hope for better
things. I have every confidence in the natural stability of your
character if you are once put upon the right track. I blame your
advisers more than I blame you."

I listened to her words with some disquietude. I had never crossed the
Atlantic, and at any ordinary time would have jumped at the chance. But
I had already other plans in store for the summer that I did not feel
prepared to relinquish, even for the pleasure of a trip to Europe.

"It is very kind of you to think of me," I said.

"No, it isn't. It's only natural," she answered shortly. "You are my
brother's child, and let alone any affection I may have for you, it is
my duty to save you from harm if I can."

"Who else is going?" I asked out of sheer cowardice; for I