ble gravity. "_Her_ birth-place,
and hence a sacred spot. She used to be called 'the maid of Sissiboo'.
But, in choosing a place to live in, let me warn you against Sissiboo.
Take some other place. You've been all over New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia. Take Petitcodiac, or Washe Aemoak, or Shubenacadie, or
Memramcook, or Rechebucto, or Chiputnecticook, or the Kennebecasis
Valley. At the same time, I have my preferences for Piserinco, or Quaco."

At all this, Jack seemed for a time completely overwhelmed, and sat
listening to Louie with a sort of imbecile smile. Her allusion to Miss
Phillips evidently troubled him, and, as to her coming to Quebec, he
did not know what to say. Louie twitted him for some time longer, but
at length he got her away into a corner, where he began a conversation
in a low but very earnest tone, which, however, was sufficiently
audible to make his remarks understood by all in the room.

And what was he saying?

He was disclaiming all intentions with regard to Miss Phillips.

And Louie was listening quietly!

Perhaps believing him!!

The scamp!!!

And now I noticed that Jack's unhappy tendency to--well, to
_conciliate_ ladies--was in full swing.

Didn't I see him, then and there, slyly try to take poor little Louie's
hand, utterly forgetful of the disastrous result of a former attempt on
what he believed to be that same hand? Didn't I see Louie civilly draw
it away, and move her chair farther off from his? Didn't I see him
flush up and begin to utter apologies? Didn't I hear Louie begin to
talk of operas, and things in general; and soon after, didn't I see her
rise and come over to Laura, and Nina, and me, as we were playing
dummy? Methinks I did. Oh, Louie! Oh, Jack! Is she destined to be
Number Four! or, good Heavens! Number Forty? Why, the man's mad! He
engages himself to every girl he sees!

Home again.

Jack was full of Louie.

"Such fun! such life! Did you ever see any thing like her?"

"But the widow, Jack?"

"Hang the widow!"

"Miss Phillips?"

"Bother Miss Phillips!"

"And Number Three?"

Jack's face grew sombre, and he was silent for a time. At length a
sudden thought seized him.

"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "I got a letter to-day, which I haven't
opened. Excuse me a moment, old chap."

So saying, he pulled a letter from his pocket, opened it, and read it.

He told me the contents.

It was from Miss Phillips, and she told her dearest Jack that her
father was about