esting and merry, Tom
unable to think or talk of anything long except his new bliss, saying
all sorts of absurd things in spite of Elsie's expostulations.

"I shall go in at once, if you don't behave more sensibly," she said,
snatching her hand from him, as he tried to kiss it. "What would Grant
think if he happened to come down."

"Oh, dear," sighed Tom; "how long before you will let me tell him; this
having to steal one's happiness is dreadful."

"Oh, you selfish, insatiable monster! not an hour ago you promised to be
perfectly content if I would only say I might care for you sometimes,
and there now you go!"

"I am a selfish wretch," said Tom, struck with remorse.

"And selfishness is such a dreadful failing," rejoined Elsie.

"It is, I know it."

"In a man."

"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, a little astonished at the close of her sentence.

"Yes," continued Elsie; "It's a woman's privilege."

"It seems to me," said Tom, eagerly, "that women claim a great many
privileges, and very odd ones, sometimes."

"Isn't it our privilege!" demanded Elsie, belligerently. "Do you mean to
deny that we haven't a right to be just as selfish and whimsical as we
please, and that it's your duty to submit?"

"If you'll let me kiss your hand I'll acknowledge anything you desire,"
said artful Tom.

"Then I won't, and if you value your peace in the slightest degree, I
should advise you to behave more decorously."

Elsie drew herself up, and looked as prim as a little Quakeress, who had
never indulged a worldly thought in all her days.

"I wish you would come into the music-room and sing to me," said Tom,
struck with a bright idea.

"Nonsense, you don't care about music?"

"Indeed I do; your voice is like an angel's."

"You couldn't tell whether I was singing something from Trovatore or
Yankee Doodle?" replied Elsie.

Tom rubbed his forehead again, fairly bewildered; but whether he knew
anything about music as a science or not, he listened to Elsie's singing
with his heart, and very sweet music it was.

"You shall teach me," he said.

"A hopeless task, Tom! And you really have some voice if you only had
any ear."

"Oh," said Tom, putting up his hands, as if taking her words literally.

"Oh," said Elsie, with a shriek, "they prove your race beyond a doubt;
don't fear."

Tom laughed, good-natured as ever.

"But come in," he urged; "you will get cold, with nothing on your head."

"You are not to become a Molly," said Els