ade sure in my will; first
the General, then my son. I should be a wretched woman else.'

"'I am sure you will do right in the end,' I said.

"'I had thought at one time that the property was so large and had
increased so much in value, that it would be well to divide it and give
James half; but the General fancied that it might take him too much away
from us--that he might get to speculate or want to go into business,--a
thing none of the Harringtons ever had stooped to, and we decided to put
it off. James felt a little hurt, I know, but it was all for his own
good, and because his society is so dear to us.'

"I think the woman was in earnest, and had no idea how unjust she seemed
in thus withholding the natural inheritance of her son, in behalf of the
man she had married. The whole thing disturbed me, all the more because
I dared not speak out the revolt of my own feelings. Mrs. Harrington saw
this in my face, I dare say, and began to apologise about troubling me
with family matters.

"'Here, I came to have a little chat about that girl Lucy, and we have
branched off into discussions on money, the last thing on earth that I
ever care to think about,' she said. 'Now tell me, do you think that she
is so very pretty?'

"'Yes,' I answered, 'very pretty. I have seldom seen anything more
delicately beautiful.'

"I spoke the truth, in spite of all the bitter feelings which the few
last days had engendered. That girl's beauty was so patent that even
prejudice must acknowledge it. Nay, in my determination to be just, her
perfections were perhaps a little exaggerated.

"'There, I think you are wrong, Mabel. I have seen fifty prettier girls
even of her own type--necks like lilies, cheeks like the lip of a sea
shell, and golden hair. But I like coloring, depth, richness. Now in my
estimation you are fifty times more beautiful than Lucy Eaton, and I
know James thinks so in spite of the General's belief about that girl.'

"'Oh, Mrs. Harrington, how partial and how kind you are.'

"'Well, I should like to have any one look at you now, and say if I am
wrong. Why, no peach was ever so richly crimsoned as your cheeks this
moment, and as for the eyes, Mabel, you have splendid eyes! That was the
first thing James told me when I asked about you; 'purplish gray,' he
said, with such curling lashes, their glance is something to remember
when she looks up.'

"'Did Mr. Harrington say this?'

"'Indeed he did, and a great deal more.