Mary. "She is rather pretty."

"Rather pretty! Why, she is an acknowledged beauty."

"A beauty? The idea! Long black thing!"

Then they rode all together to the farm. There Mary was all innocent
hospitality, and the obnoxious Julia kissed her at parting, and begged
her to come and see her at the Hall.

Mary did call, and found her with a young gentleman of short stature, who
was devouring her with his eyes, but did not overflow in discourse,
having a slight impediment in his speech. This was Mr. Percy Fitzroy.
Julia introduced him.

"And where are you staying, Percy?" inquired she.

"At the D--D--Dun Cow."

"What is that?"

Walter explained that it was a small hostelry, but one that was
occasionally honored by distinguished visitors. Miss Bartley staid there
three days.

"I h--hope to st--ay more than that," said little Percy, with an amorous
glance at Julia.

Miss Clifford took Mary to her room, and soon asked her what she thought
of him; then, anticipating criticism, she said there was not much of him,
but he was such a duck.

"He dresses beautifully," was Mary's guarded remark.

However, when Walter rode home with her, being now relieved of his
attendance on Julia, she was more communicative. Said she: "I never knew
before that a man could look like fresh cambric. Dear me! his head and
his face and his little whiskers, his white scarf, his white waistcoat,
and all his clothes, and himself, seem just washed and ironed and
starched. _I looked round for the bandbox_."

"Never mind," said Walter. "He is a great addition. My duties devolve on
him. And I shall be free to--How her eyes shone and her voice mellowed
when she spoke to him! Confess, now, love is a beautiful thing."

"I can not say. Not experienced in beautiful things." And Mary looked
mighty demure.

"Of course not. What am I thinking of? You are only a child."

"A little more than that, _please_."

"At all events, love beautified _her_."

"I saw no difference. She was always a lovely girl."

"Why, you said she was 'a long black thing.'"

"Oh, that was before--she looked engaged."

After this young Fitzroy was generally Miss Clifford's companion in her
many walks, and Walter Clifford had a delightful time with Mary Bartley.

Her nurse discovered how matters were going. But she said nothing. From
something Bartley let fall years ago she divined that Bartley was robbing
Walter Clifford by substituting Hope's child for his own, and she