r own thoughts.

'By the way,' cried Nina suddenly, 'did I tell you that Mary wished me joy
this morning. She had overheard Mr. Gorman's declaration, and believed he
had asked me to be his wife.'

'How absurd!' said Kate, and there was anger as well as shame in her look
as she said it.

'Of course it was absurd. She evidently never suspected to whom she was
speaking, and then--' She stopped, for a quick glance at Kate's face warned
her of the peril she was grazing. 'I told the girl she was a fool, and
forbade her to speak of the matter to any one.'

'It is a servants'-hall story already,' said Kate quietly.

'Do you care for that?'

'Not much; three days will see the end of it.'

'I declare, in your own homely way, I believe you are the wiser of the two
of us.'

'My common sense is of the very commonest,' said Kate, laughing; 'there is
nothing subtle nor even neat about it.'

'Let us see that! Give me a counsel or, rather, say if you agree with me. I
have asked Mr. Walpole to show me how his family accept my entrance amongst
them; with what grace they receive me as a relative. One of his cousins
called me the Greek girl, and in my own hearing. It is not, then,
over-caution on my part to inquire how they mean to regard me. Tell me,
however, Kate, how far you concur with me in this. I should like much to
hear how your good sense regards the question. Should you have done as I
have?'

'Answer me first one question. If you should learn that these great folks
would not welcome you amongst them, would you still consent to marry Mr.
Walpole?'

'I'm not sure, I am not quite certain, but I almost believe I should.'

'I have, then, no counsel to give you,' said Kate firmly. 'Two people who
see the same object differently cannot discuss its proportions.'

'I see my blunder,' cried Nina impetuously. 'I put my question stupidly. I
should have said, "If a girl has won a man's affections and given him her
own--if she feels her heart has no other home than in his keeping--that she
lives for him and by him--should she be deterred from joining her fortunes
to his because he has some fine connections who would like to see him marry
more advantageously?"' It needed not the saucy curl of her lip as she spoke
to declare how every word was uttered in sarcasm. 'Why will you not answer
me?' cried she at length; and her eyes shot glances of fiery impatience as
she said it.

'Our distinguished friend Mr. Atlee is to arrive to-mor