im exactly as if he were a great boy. He had paid us his
parting salutations, and was half-way down the steps before she was
aware of his intended departure.

"You are not going so soon, indeed you are not," she exclaimed, running
after him, seizing his hat, and setting it jauntily on her own head. Her
abundant hair prevented it from falling over her face. "I brought you
here to stay all the evening; and stay you must and shall. What do you
want to go back to your musty old bachelor's room for, when there is
such delightful company here?"

Taking hold of his arm and whirling him briskly round, she led him back
into the parlor, laughing and triumphant.

She looked so saucy, so jaunty, so full of nerve and adventure, with the
large hat pitched on one side of her head, I could not help saying,--

"What a pity she were not a man!"

Mr. Regulus did not appear as awkward as might be supposed. There was a
latent spark of fun and frolic in his large brain, to which her wild
hand applied the match; and though I know he felt the disappointment of
his affections sorely, deeply, he yielded himself to her assault with
tolerable grace and readiness.

Supper was always an unceremonious meal, sent round on waiters, from a
round table in the back parlor, at which Mrs. Linwood presided.
Gentlemen took their cups standing or walking, just as it happened; and
ladies, too, though they were generally seated. Ernest drew a light
table to the lounge where I sat; and sitting by me, said, as I was an
invalid, I should be peculiarly favored.

"Methinks she is not the only favored one," said the sweet voice of
Edith, as she floated near.

"There is room for you, dear Edith," said I, moving closer to the arm of
the sofa, and leaving a space for her between us.

"Room on the sofa, Edith," added he, moving towards me, and making a
space for her on his right, "and tenfold room in my heart."

He took her hand and drew her down to his side.

"This is as it should be," he said, looking from one to the other with a
radiant countenance. "Thus would I ever bind to my heart the two
loveliest, dearest, best."

Edith bent her head, and kissed the hand which held hers. As she looked
up I saw that her eyes were glistening.

"What would mamma say?" she asked, trying to conceal her emotion.
"Surely there can be none dearer and better than she is."

"Nay, Edith," said he, passing his arm tenderly round her waist; "you
might as well say, if I single