everal years, and is an intimate
friend of my cousins dwelling there. She called upon them during my
recent visit. I pressed Alice to spend a few weeks at Northfield. We
look for a most delightful time.

"How nice it will be that Mr. Langdon can be here and help us to enjoy
this treat! What lovely trips on horseback! Such sails on the lake! Miss
Webster sings divinely."

Esther's exquisite face shone with genuine anticipation, and Alice
seemed hopeful of perfect happiness.

Oswald did not just like the prospect. Though this London acquisition to
Northfield's select circle was an uncommonly pretty young woman of
twenty-two, tall, and a most strikingly interesting brunette, Oswald had
little disposition to be promiscuous in his tastes for female charms. To
his discriminating vision Esther Randolph was the ideal of all he deemed
desirable in womanly loveliness. If Oswald Langdon had been consulted as
to the advisability of this expected visit, Alice Webster at that time
would have been in London.

However, there were matters in the Randolph social set which had taken
shape without his molding hand.

Oswald considerately decided not to veto any absolute decrees of fate,
but felt that innocent, generous-hearted Alice Webster was an interloper
and a positive barrier to his purposes.

Let none fancy that this chafing, impetuous suitor, so impatient toward
any and all obstacles, permitted ocular evidence of these sentiments to
casual view. All was masked by the most refined, manly courtesy and held
in check by habitual self-control.

From the first Alice admired Oswald Langdon. His conduct toward her was
the perfection of manly consideration. Conscious of his unreasonable
resentment against her presence at Northfield at this particular time,
he made amends by strenuous efforts to entertain this handsome girl.

For nearly two weeks the time of these interesting young people was
occupied in varying rounds of social pleasure. The three seldom were
separated, except when Esther was called away to superintend some
household matter or joined Sir Donald.

Oswald planned many ways to be alone with Esther, but found such
seclusion impossible. Not that there was apparent disposition on her
part to thwart any of his plans, but on the contrary, Esther seemed
acquiescent in every whim of her guests.

Alice was happy in Oswald's company, and did not disguise her
sentiments.

Having been so considerate, Oswald could not now be i