carriage and unaffected ease of manner--which last was the combined result
of native refinement and constant association with the highly polished and
educated, united to childlike simplicity of character and utter absence of
self-consciousness--often led strangers into the mistake of supposing her
several years older than she really was.

Her beauty, too, and her genius for music and painting added to her
attractiveness, so that altogether, the gentlemen were quite as ready to
pay court to her as to her sister, and had she been disposed to receive
their attentions, or to push herself forward in the least, her parents
would have found it difficult to prevent her entering society earlier than
was for her good.

But like her mother before her, Vi was in no haste to assume the duties
and responsibilities of womanhood. Only fifteen she was

"Standing with reluctant feet
Where the brook and river meet,
Womanhood and childhood fleet."

Hugh Lilburn and Herbert Carrington both regarded her with covetous eyes,
and both asked permission of her father to pay their addresses, but
received the same answer;--that she was too young yet to be approached on
that subject.

"Well, Mr. Travilla, if you say that to every one, as no doubt you do, I'm
willing to wait," said Herbert going off tolerably contented.

But Hugh, reddening with the sudden recollection that Violet was an
heiress, and his portion a very moderate one, stammered out something
about hoping he was not mistaken for a fortune hunter, and that he would
make no effort to win her until he was in circumstances to do so with
propriety.

"My dear fellow," said Mr. Travilla, "do not for a moment imagine that has
anything to do with my refusal. I do not care to find rich husbands for my
daughters, and were Violet of proper age, should have but one objection to
you as a suitor; that you would be likely to carry her far away from us."

"No, no, sir, I wouldn't!" exclaimed the lad warmly. "I like America, and
think I shall settle here. And sir, I thank you most heartily for your
kind words. But, as I've said, I won't ask again till I can do so with
propriety."

Leland, too, admired Violet extremely, and loved her with brotherly
affection; but it was Elsie who had won his heart.

But he had never whispered a word of this to her, or to any human
creature, for he was both poor and proud, and had firmly resolved not to
seek her hand until his art should bring hi