ence are the
two features. And I have made a solemn vow not to be one of
them"--(query, a science or a naughty girl)--"making mischief between
father and son."

"No more you shall, dear," said Walter. "Leave it to me. We must be
patient, and all will come right."

"Oh, I'll be true to you, dear, if that is all," said Mary.

"And if you would not mind just temporizing a little, for my sake, who
love you?"

"Temporize!" said Mary, eagerly. "With all my heart. I'll temporize till
we are all dead and buried."

"Oh, that will be too long for me," said Walter.

"Oh, never do things by halves," said the ready girl.

If his tongue had been as prompt as hers, he might have said that
"temporizing" was doing things by halves; but he let her have the
last word. And perhaps he lost nothing, for she would have had that
whether or no.

So this day was another era in their love. Girls after a time are not
content to see they are beloved; they must hear it too; and now Walter
had spoken out like a man, and Mary had replied like a woman. They were
happy, and walked hand in hand purring to one another, instead of
sparring any more.

On his return home Walter found Julia marching swiftly and haughtily up
and down upon the terrace of Clifford Hall, and he could not help
admiring the haughty magnificence of her walk. The reason soon appeared.
She was in a passion. She was always tall, but now she seemed lofty, and
to combine the supple panther with the erect peacock in her ireful march.
Such a fine woman as Julia really awes a man with her carriage at such a
time. The poor soul thinks he sees before him the indignation of the
just; when very likely it is only what in a man would be called
Petulance.

"Anything the matter, Miss Clifford?" said he, obsequiously.

"No, sir" (very stiffly).

"Can I be of any service?"

"No, you can not." And then, swifter than any weather-cock ever turned:
"You are a good creature: why should I be rude to you? I ought to be
ashamed of myself. It is that little wretch."

"Not our friend Fitzroy?"

"Why, what other little wretch is there about? We are all Grenadiers and
May-poles in this house except him. Well, let him go. I dare say somebody
else--hum--and Uncle Clifford has told me more than once I ought to look
higher. I couldn't well look lower than five feet nothing. Ha! ha! ha! I
told him so."

"That was cruel."

"Don't scold _me_. I won't be lectured by any of you. Of course it was,