raph descriptive of some brilliant evening party at which Algerno

Minnie, who had been

Chubb. "I know all about that sort of society, so I c

the latter remark, so that no one heard it save Mr. Warlock

k of the thing so neatly, and puts out what he has to say so effec

of the thing,' I can assure you that literary talent is hereditary in our family. I don't know, my dear Minnie, whet

all

of the question. "And my own father's letters were considered models of style," she continued.

"Unless he wrote letters to himself, they m

to collect the correspondence of eminent men. It was done in the case of Walpole. And-Mr. Diamond will correct me if

n unsafe ground here, and

to be getting on admirably in London,

oud on Miss Chubb's brow, and brought down Mrs. Errington from her high horse to the l

such a nice, genial, unaffected creature! And never gave himself any airs!" sai

t found among folks who come of a real good ancient s

e shrank from much conversation with Mrs. Errington, whom he found somewhat overwhelming; but he would have nerved

. And I am sorry. But it would be cruel in him to desert poor dear

he matter with Lord

osition is very severe, and he depends so on Algy! And so does dear Lady Seely. I

en't a daughter, isn'

he answered placidly, "They have an adopted daughter;

iamond, quickly. "I

, china-blue stare on him before

lightly over Castalia's name in his letters, and for some time had not even mentioned that she was an inmate of Lord Seely's house. In his latter letters he had spoken of

to you, but Castalia-the Honourable Castalia Kilfinane, only daughter of Lord Kauldkail-is staying with the

said Miss Chubb, in a

ing, Miss Chubb. She might be considered y

shelf near to his chief (an action which Mrs. Errington viewed with disfavour, as indicating on the part of the second master at the Grammar School a too great ease, and absence of due subjection in the presence of his superiors), and the Reverend Peter and Miss Chubb drew their chairs nearer to the fireplace, thus bringing the scattered members of the party into a more sociable circle. The doctor was understood to obj

looking at the moon. She is chillier and not so cosy as the coal f

and looking so pretty and timid that the doctor began smilingly to murmur into Dia

any one. To this result the conversion to orthodoxy of the Maxfield family may have contributed. But, possibly, Rhoda's regular attendance at St. Chad's might have been i

onth ago her place in that drawing-room would have been beside Minnie's chair. But lately, by some subtle instinct, Rhoda had a little shrunk from

a letter of Algernon

ou? hav

s been kind enough

was moving away again and pressed it to her lips. "Thank God for you and mother," she whispered. Minnie was not given to demonstrations of tenderness, having been rather accustomed, like most idolised children, to accept her p

ially to her neighbour the curate. "So severe a man as the doctor is in general! Quite the churchm

s eyes, and he unaffectedly wiped them

ed his usual place, and his usual manner, "wha

nd ladies gay" whose society he frequented; the brilliant compliments that were paid him by

acy of this realm," said Minnie, with a little ironical smile. "He has shone in evening recepti

ngton, smoothly. "It wouldn't do to neglect-a-a-persons who mean

n Algernon to turn away from proffered kindness. But I will not put the matter on that ground. I should be sorry to think that a

the slightest idea of being offended. She was smiling with much complacency, and answered mellifluously to the doctor's thunder, "Thank you, Dr.

Miss Chubb. "He was a favourite with everybody. S

a low voice. "Superis D

an?" asked Miss Chubb

logical personage of very flexible

he studies in 'ology' ever seemed to have much attraction for me; whereas the 'ographies' always interested me very much. There was geography, now. I used to know the names of all the European rivers when I w

s, the scholastic eyes rolled round on Mr. Diamond and the curate with an expression of such helpless indignation, that the former was driven to blow his nos

eyes with her hand, and was leaning back in her chair,

r these things, if philosophers could only find it out,"

eg your

have not heard a word I've been sa

ies;" and he abruptly demanded of his wife, in the magisterial tones which had often struck awe into the hearts of the lowest form, "Laura, are we not to have our rubber before midnight? Pray make up the ta

Bodkin co-operated very comfortably with his curate in all church matters, he found himself not altogether able to do so at the green table, the Reverend Peter's notions of whist being confused and elementary. To

light of the climbing moon poured freely into the room. Warlock timidly drew near to Miss Bodkin's chair, and ventured to say a word or two now and then, to which he received answers so k

the two who sat side by side near the window, Diamond bending down to speak softly to Rhoda, and the girl's delicate face, white and sprite-like in the moonlight, turning now and then towards her companion with a

removed her young mistress's ornaments, "Goodness, Miss Minnie, what have you done to yourself? Why that diamond ring you

hite hand to the light, a

nd twisted the ring about, unconscious