letter from Mrs. Haveron, the distinguished authoress, and she spelt receive, recieve. I can quite recall my feelings of astonishment even now. And the Young Men's Society here recently asked the Hon. Mr. Blaze—the cabinet minister, you know—to lecture under their auspices, and the secretary of the society showed me his answer, in which he said that had it been in his power he would have considered it an honor and a privilege to lecture to such a society as theirs—theirs being spelt theres; so that you can hardly judge from spelling, or even composition. The tone of a letter is perhaps the safest thing to draw inferences from. People may have respectable intellect and education, and be altogether wanting in nobility of nature."
"I think," I said, "people who answer an advertisement for the sake of getting a carte must have little to do, and not only want nobility of nature, but natural gumption."
V
I felt warmly to the Misses Douglas, very warmly, and was sure that I had planted a young friendship. We arranged that they should visit me the following Saturday, when we could go more fully into matters and come to some decision.
I returned in as good spirits as I had left in the morning. The winter day had closed in, but on the deep dark gray of the heavens stars glittered by millions—stars that have struck delight and awe into every thinking mind since the creation. Delight and keen sense of enjoyment, the rebound from the dreariness that had wellnigh overpowered me, was what I felt on this night rather than awe. On arriving at home, instead of the blank, dull comfort of a room emptied of inhabitants, eyes were watching my coming, and looked uncommonly bright when I came.
"How I have been wearying for you!" said my guest. "Do you know I helped wash, and I cooked the dinner, and I've got tea all ready, and we are just waiting for you? What kind of day have you had?"
"Delightful: it has been a complete success from beginning to end."
"Like mine."
The words were hardly out of her mouth when the door-bell rang—a full, loud, imperative ring. She started and exclaimed, "That's his ring! How has he found me out?"
I listened, and heard a voice say to Margaret in quick tones, "Is there a young lady staying here?"
"There are two—"
"Just let me see them, will you?" and, as Margaret told afterward, Mr. Hamilton pushed past her before she had time to prevent him, and walked straight into the middle of the dining-room. His eye seized Miss C. December instantly.
"I knew it," he said. "What have you to say for yourself?"
She had sunk back in her chair with her hands over her face. I had a good guess of who our visitor was, but I turned to her and said, "Will you explain? I took you in, knowing nothing of you, but I did not bargain for having my house filled with your friends and acquaintances, or whoever they may be: it is unreasonable. Besides, five shillings a week afford no extras."
Said the youth, "We shall go immediately. I'll give you any money," taking out his purse, "for your kindness to her, and if I can ever do anything for you, let me know. Madge, get your mufflings, will you?"
"Stop, stop," I said, "not so fast. Madge, as you call her, has been washing and cooking all day, and is hardly fresh for a journey."
"Madge," he said, going up to her, "how could you grieve me so?"
She opened her hands and showed her face partly. I had thought that perhaps she was crying, but she was laughing, and she said, "Grief improves some characters."
"Oh, Madge," he said passionately, "I hope that is not the way yours is to be improved."
"Jo," she said, starting up, "you could not think anything dismal had happened to me. You knew I was able to take care of myself."
