oned.

"It is quite ready, miss; I was just about to send it down."

He brought forward the double loving-cup that Lionel had given to Nina;
and as the young lady took it into her hands she glanced at the rim.
Yes; the inscription was quite right: "_From Leo to Nina_"--that was
the simple legend she had had engraved.

"Here is the cup I spoke of, Estelle; is it not beautiful? And then I
would not trouble Lionel to have the inscription made--I told him I
would have it done myself and asked him what the words should be--behold
it!"

The cup was duly admired and handed back to be sent down to Sloane
Street; then Estelle and she left the shop together.

"Oh, yes, it is very beautiful," said the former, continuing to speak in
her native tongue, "and a very distinguished present; but there is
something still more piquant that he will be buying for you ere
long--can you not guess, Nina?--no?--not a wedding-ring?"

The audacity of the question somewhat disconcerted Nina; but she met it
with no sham denial, no affected protest.

"He has not spoken to me, Estelle," Nina said, gravely and simply, "And
sometimes I ask myself if it is not better we should remain as we
are--we are such good friends and companions. We are happy; we have
plenty to occupy ourselves with; why undertake more serious cares?
Perhaps that is all that Lionel thinks of it; and, if it is so, I am
content. And then sometimes, Estelle, I ask myself if it would not be
better for him to marry--when he has made his choice, that is to say;
and I picture him and his young wife living very happily in a quite
small establishment--perhaps two or three rooms only, in one of those
large buildings in Victoria Street--and everything very pretty around
them, with their music and their occupations and the visits of friends.
Would not that be for him a life far more satisfactory than his present
distractions--the gayeties and amusements--the invitations of
strangers?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" her companion cried, with instant assent. "Ah, Nina, I
can see you the most charming young house-mistress--I can see you
receive your guests when they come for afternoon music--you wear a
tea-gown of brocade the color of wall-flower, with cream-colored
lace--you speak French, English, Italian as it is necessary for this one
and that--your musical reunions are known everywhere. Will madame permit
the poor Estelle to be present?--Estelle, who will not dare to sing
before those celebrated