zenship to vote for you. How I shall enjoy it!"

"You are very kind!"

"Oh, don't think of it in that way!" exclaimed Miss Tomalin. "I have
always thought more of principles than of persons. It isn't in my
nature to take anything up unless I feel an absolute conviction that it
is for the world's good. At Northampton I often offended people I liked
by what they called my obstinacy when a principle was at stake. I don't
want to praise myself, but I really can say that it is my nature to be
earnest and thorough and disinterested."

"Of that I am quite sure," said Lashmar, fervently.

"And--to let me tell you--it is such a pleasure to feel that my
opportunities will be so much greater than formerly." May was growing
very intimate, but still kept her air of dignity, with its touch of
condescension. "At Northampton, you know, I hadn't very much scope; now
it will be different. What an important thing social position is! What
power for good it gives one!"

"Provided," put in her companion, "that one belongs to nature's
aristocracy."

"Well--yes--I suppose one must have the presumption to lay claim to
that," returned May, with a little laugh.

"Say, rather, the honesty, the simple courage. Self-depreciation,"
added Dyce, "I have always regarded as a proof of littleness. People
really called to do something never lose confidence in themselves, and
have no false modesty about expressing it."

"I'm sure that's very true. I heard once that someone at Northampton
had called me conceited, and you can't think what a shock it gave me. I
sat down, there and then, and asked myself whether I really was
conceited, and my conscience assured me I was nothing of the kind. I
settled it with myself, once for all. Since then, I have never cared
what people said about me."

"That's admirable!" murmured Dyce.

"I am sure," went on the girl, with a grave archness, "that you too
have known such an experience."

"To tell the truth, I have," the philosopher admitted, bending his head
a little.

"I felt certain that you could understand me, or I should never have
ventured to tell you such a thing.--There is Miss Bride!"

Constance had taken a seat not far from them, and the man who had been
talking with her upstairs was offering her refreshments. Presently, she
caught Miss Tomalin's eye, and smiled; a minute or two after, she and
her companion came forward to join the other pair, and all re-ascended
to the drawing-rooms together. When