could make a girl happy, if all that would not?' asked another.

'Humph! Miss Gainsborough, you are the next; what are your views on the
subject?'

Esther's mouth opened, and closed. The answer that came first to her
lips was sent back. She had a fine feeling that it was not fit for the
company, a feeling that is expressed in the admonition not to cast
pearls before swine, though that admonition did not occur to her at the
time. She had been about to appeal to the Bible; but her answer as it
was given referred only to herself.

'I believe I should not call "happiness" anything that would not last,'
she said.

There was a moment's silence. What Miss Fairbairn thought was not to be
read from her face; in other faces Esther read distaste or
disapprobation.

'Why, Miss Fairbairn, nothing lasts, if you come to that,' cried a
young lady from near the other end of the table.

'Some things more than others,' the mistress of the house opined.

'Not what you call "happiness," ma'am.'

'That's a very sober view of things to take at your age, Miss Disbrow.'

'Yes, ma'am,' said the young lady, tittering. 'It is true.'

'Do you think it is true, Miss Jennings?'

There was a little hesitation. Miss Jennings said she did not know.
Miss Lawton was appealed to.

'Is there no happiness that is lasting, Miss Lawton?'

'Well, Miss Fairbairn, what we call happiness. One can't be married but
once,' the young lady hazarded.

That called forth a storm of laughter. Laughter well modulated and kept
within bounds, be it understood; no other was tolerated in Miss
Fairbairn's presence.

'I have _heard_ of people who had that happiness two or three times,'
the lady said demurely. 'Is there, then, no happiness short of being
married?'

'Oh, Miss Fairbairn! you know I do not mean that, but all the things
you read to us of: the diamonds, and the beautiful dresses, and the
lace, and the presents; and then the travelling, and doing whatever she
liked.'

'Very few people do whatever they like,' murmured Miss Fairbairn.

'I mean all that. And that does not last--only for a while. The
diamonds last, of course'--

'But the pleasure of wearing them might not. True. Quite right, Miss
Lawton. But I come back to my question. Is there _no_ happiness on
earth that lasts?'

There was silence.

'We are in a bad way, if that is our case. Miss Gainsborough, what do
you say? I come back to you again. Is there any such thing on earth as
happi