el is the 'good boy' of our family, and as
worthy a creature as ever breathed."

Agatha smiled with pleasure to see the elder brother waxing so
generously warm; but when she smiled, Major Harper sighed, and cast his
handsome eyes another way. All the evening he scarcely talked to her
at all, but to Mrs. and Miss Ianson. Agatha was quite puzzled by this
pointed avoidance, not to say incivility, and had some thoughts
of plainly asking him if he were vexed with her; but womanly pride
conquered girlish frankness, and she was silent.

After tea their quartett was broken by a visitor, whom all seemed
astonished to see, and none more so than Major Harper.

"Why, Nathanael, I thought you were safely disposed of with your sofa
and book. What madness makes you come out to-night?"

"Inclination, and weariness," returned the other, indifferently, as,
without making more excuses or apologies, he dragged himself to the
arm-chair, which Miss Bowen good-naturedly drew out for him, and slipped
into the circle, quite naturally.

"Well, wilful lads must have their way," cried his brother, "and I am
only too glad to see you so much better."

With that the flow of the Major's winning conversation recommenced; in
which current all the rest of the company lay like silent pebbles, only
too happy to be bubbled round by such a pleasant and refreshing stream.

The younger Harper sat in his arm-chair, leaning his forehead on his
hand, and from under that curve now and then looking at them all,
especially Agatha.

At a late hour the brothers went away, leaving Mrs. and Miss Ianson in
a state of extreme delight, and Miss Bowen in a mood that, to say the
least, was thoughtful--more thoughtful than usual.

After that lively evening followed three dull days, consisting of
a solitary forenoon, an afternoon walk through the squares, dinner,
backgammon, and bed; the next morning, _de capo al fine_, and so on; a
dance of existence as monotonous as that of the spheres, and not half so
musical. On the fourth day, while Miss Bowen was out walking, Nathanael
Harper called to take leave before his journey to Dorsetshire. He stayed
some time, waiting Agatha's return, Mrs. Ianson thought; but finally
changed his mind, and made an abrupt departure, for which that young
lady was rather sorry than otherwise.

The fifth day, Emma Thornycroft appeared, and, strange to say, without
any of her little ones; still stranger, without many references to them
on h