great liberty in saying this; but you are very fond of your little boy, and I am sure you will forgive me."
"More than that," said Mr. Willis, looking extremely complacent, "I feel very much obliged to you, I know I ought to conceal my habitual melancholy from the observation of that babe."
"Certainly," said Rachel, "and from everybody else. There is no great merit in bearing grief grievously, and there is certainly no great charm in habitual melancholy, be it real or artificial."
"I hope, Miss Monteneros, you do not suspect me of being artificial."
"Are not you? Well, I do not know, I am very artificial myself, a regular actress, but I have always thought you outdid me in that line. Why now, Mr. Willis, Hamlet, you know, says that,
"'The inky cloke
The windy inspirations of forced breath,
And the dejected 'haviour of the visage,'
are actions that a man may seem, they do
