rtha's sympathy--of the relations borne towards the family by the
young printer and Col. Bancker--and of the unpleasant affairs which had
already occurred, culminating in that outrage at the theatre, since
which time (not many days, however,) the lovers had had no meeting.

"Why, it is as good as a play!" said Joe, when her friend had finished
her relation, and thinking, at the same time, how there was an
unaccountable something in her own fortune or character, which drew her
into acquaintance with so much that was dramatic in the lives of others.

"I am afraid you think me very weak and silly," said Emily. "You _must_
do so, unless--unless--"

"Oh, I understand you!" said Joe. "You mean that I must think your love
silly, unless I happen to be in love myself?"

"Yes, that was what I meant to say," answered the young girl.

"Oh, make yourself easy on that point!" said the incarnate mischief. "It
has not been very long under way, but I have picked up a _fellow_."

"Oh, I am so glad! Then I know that you will understand me!" answered
Emily.

"I understand you, and I do not think you silly at all," said her
mentor. "I saw the young man's face that evening, and I fancy that he is
decidedly good-looking. That is something. You say that he is honest,
industrious and _brave_: that is a good deal more. Then you love him,
and that is of much more consequence still. Never marry a man whom you
cannot love, my dear, if you remain an old maid so long that they date
from your birth instead of the Christian era."

Emily Owen looked up for an instant, to see how old this mentor could
be, who talked with the confidence of experience and the gravity of
fifty (so much like Aunt Martha); but she met a face very little older
than her own, and she merely said:

"I am so glad you think that I am right!"

"You say that you have not seen him since that evening at Wallack's,"
said Josephine. "Have you not _heard_ from him since?"

"Yes," said Emily, "we--"

"Write?"

"Yes," again said the young girl. "I hope you do not think that is
wrong. Frank does not wish to come here, and I do not wish him to come
here, possibly to be abused by my father; and so--"

"I wish I knew him," said Josephine, who by this time had some odd idea
running through her head. "What is he like? No, I do not mean how he
looks, for you know that I saw him for a moment; but what is his
disposition? Grave or gay?"

"Gay--very gay, I should think," replied Emi