impossible in the fact? Possible? Of course it is
possible!"

And Philippa laughed again more merrily than before.

"Your cousin!" repeated Mowbray; "why, Charles is one of my best
friends."

"That is very proper, sir; then, you have two friends in the family."

And Philippa gave her cavalier an enchanting smile.

"Charles is a very excellent young man," she laughed; "and I am sure
loves me deeply, but then any one can see he loves himself
extravagantly."

"Is it possible! But excuse me," said Mowbray, seeing that his
astonishment annoyed his companion; "he was to be here to-night."

"Has he arrived?" said Philippa, looking round with her daring smile.

"I do not see him."

"Tell me when he comes," she said, shaking with laughter; "he's a sad
fellow, and I must lecture him."

Mowbray looked at her.

"Strange that I did not see that you were related," he said.

"Very strange."

"He resembles you strongly."

"Yes."

"But has light hair."

"Has he?"

"And is smaller, I verily believe."

"No, I believe our height is just the same. Has he attended to his
studies?"

Mowbray smiled and shook his head.

"Not in a way to injure his health, I fear."

"Lazy fellow! I will never marry him."

"He is then a suitor of yours, madam? I was not aware of the fact--and
request you to pardon my criticism."

"There you are assuming your grand air again," said Philippa,
laughing; "please leave it at home when you come to see me. Ah! you
smile again--that pleases me. What did you ask? 'Was Charles my
suitor--did he love me?' Yes, I am convinced that he loves me
devotedly, as deeply as a man can love any thing--as much, that is to
say, as he loves himself!"

And the young girl burst into another fit of laughter, and positively
shook with merriment.

"Did you become well acquainted with him?" she asked, after a pause;
"Charles is not stiff--too free and easy, I fear, and I am sure
you--liked him."

"Indeed, I did," said Mowbray; "he was a great consolation to me, and
I always thought there was something strangely familiar in his face.
Singular that I never observed how closely he resembled you."

"That was because you did not think of me very frequently."

Mowbray colored.

"I thought of you too often, I fear," he said in a low tone.

"And never came to see me--that is a probable tale," she said,
coloring also, and glancing with a mixture of mirth and timidity at
him.

Their eyes met;--those eloquent