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"It is the most remarkable thing in the world, Harry, that you always come just when I want you."

"It was not because you wanted me, in this case," said his cousin.

"No, very likely not," said Penn, "but a bright idea has just come into my head; and I believe there'll be time for it yet, if Miss Clyde will only let me leave her with you-she has so little way to go now."

"She will let you with pleasure," said Mr. Raynor.

"I dare say she will-she was always so good," said Penn; and darting off without more ado, he left Rosalie to wonder that one man's way through the world should. be so different from another's, the crowd touched herno more that night.

66 Do you know, Miss Rosalie," said Mr. Raynor, as he stood with his hand on the bell, "that in this good city you need better protection on some nights than on others ?"

"Yes," she said quickly, "but-" and then checking herself, she simply added, "I know it."

Mr. Raynor looked at her for a moment-for every pane of glass in the whole house gave forth light; but as if he guessed what she did not tell him he asked no further questions. The bell was rung, and they parted.

When Mr. Raynor reached his own home, he found that Mr. Penn had employed his spare time in getting candles and putting them in every window that he dared appropriate.

His own rooms and Mr. Henry's and all that belonged to nobody in particular-the garret-even the diningroom had Mr. Penn enlivened to the extent of his power;. and the house looked like a hotel of patriotism and treason. But the candles burned as if there had been never a Quaker nor a traitor in the whole world.

L

CHAPTER XIX.

The neighbourhood were at their wits end, to consider what would be the issue.-L'ESTRANGE.

"ARE the Clydes coming to-night, mamma ?" said Miss Clinton, as she took a last elaborate back and front view of herself.

"Yes, my dear-I suppose so- -I invited them, of

course.

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"But I mean are they coming-what does ail the neck of this dress ?"

"Nothing at all."

"Nothing at all! when it twists round and puckers-" "When you twist round."

"When I don't.

And just see, mamma-the waist is

a great deal too long."

"I don't perceive it, indeed."

"Because you don't look, ma'am. Let me show youwhere's a card-now what do you think of that ?—two inches below the sleeve, mamma!"

66

"I think, my dear, that your grandmother would have thought two inches below the sleeve was no waist at all." Very likely, ma'am, but the old lady didn't know everything. What makes you think the Clydes will come? They might have forgotten to send regrets."

"I saw Mr. Clyde in the street to-day, and he said he should certainly come and bring his sister."

"I should think he might, it will be such a small party. But it's a dreadful thing to be so long out of society! one grows so shockingly old. Why, mamma, she must be more than twenty.'

"Well, my dear, so must you, if you live long enough." "My dear ma'am, what things you do always say to bring down one's spirits!-Just like Marion Arnet,—she told me the other day- By the by, she's just as much off as ever with Thornton Clyde."

MRS. CLINTON'S PARTY.

"Is that what she told you?"

147

"La no, mamma-what an idea! But I mean there's not the least prospect of their ever making it up." And Miss Clinton surveyed herself in the glass with much complacency.

"I can't conceive what concern it is of yours, my dear."

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'No, ma'am-perhaps not,-but one likes to talk."

"I think, however, that one should talk good-naturedly, when one can," said Mrs. Clinton, as she got up and peeped over her daughter's shoulder. "Dear me-I look pale to-night! How should you like to have such remarks made about you, my dear?"

"Dear mamma!—as if I ever, ever could be such a fool! But Rosalie never does make disagreeable speeches, so I'm quite willing she should come; especially as she's so grave now and quiet. I suppose her engrossing power can hardly have survived these two years of seclusion."

Miss Clinton wondered how it had survived, when she saw Rosalie enter the room and perceived that the engrossing power was in full force. It was only natural she tried to persuade herself, that people should crowd about one whom they had seen but seldom for a year or two; but a mere greeting did not seem to content them, and there were as many new as old friends in the circle that soon formed about Miss Clyde. Only over one person she seemed to have lost her power. Mr. Raynor went up and paid his respects, and came away again,therefore, as Miss Clinton remarked to herself, "there could have been nothing in that." The power had not descended to her, however, for he attached himself perseveringly to two old ladies; and was deep in a discussion upon the state of the roads, the streets, and the atmosphere, and just having his juvenile inexperience enlightened on the subject of hailstorms, when his fair hostess claimed his attention.

"Mr. Raynor, doesn't it seem very dull to you here, after Paris ?"

"As the daylight after gas."

"Well, that is pretty bad. Things look beautiful by gaslight, don't you think so?"

"Beautiful ?-some things," said the gentleman, whose eye had made a momentary excursion after his thoughts. "But candlelight is in general thought more becoming, Miss Clinton.'

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66 'Do you think so? The other room is lighted with candle-let us go in there and see if the people look different."

"By what rule of comparison will you judge of different people by different lights ?" said Mr. Raynor, as he obediently gave the lady his arm.

"Oh, we can compare each other," said Miss Clinton laughing. "But candles must be the most becoming, as you say, for all the oldest people have got in here to have the benefit of it."

He looked grave, and she changed the subject.

"How well Miss Clyde looks to-night-only rather pale."

"What shade of colour puts a lady beyond the charge of paleness?"

Oh, I don't know-but she keeps herself so shut up." "I have reason to believe that you are mistaken there, Miss Clinton. I have certainly received the impression that Miss Clyde walks a great deal."

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"What is mamma whispering about?" said Miss Clinton as they slowly paced back again. Wanting Miss Clyde to sing and she won't, or don't-which is it? Miss Arnet will-no, she don't choose, I know from her look."

"Will you sing ?" inquired Mr. Raynor, who really liked his companion better at the piano than anywhere else.

"Oh, not for anything-there, some one else is going. And now Miss Clyde has got away to talk to Mrs. Delt. I would give the world for her coolness and self-possession-I never could cross a room alone."

"Will you cross it with me, then ?" said Penn Raynor presenting himself. "Here am I, Miss Clinton-at your service, totally disengaged because nobody will take the trouble to engage me."

"But I am not disengaged-" said Miss Clinton.

"Mrs. Clinton says," pursued Penn, "that she shall call upon Harry next, so there's a decided opening."

BEES AND BUTTERFLIES.

149

"Then we will walk over to the piano together," said the lady, "and secure a good place.'

"Aye, take my arm too," said Penn.

"Just as well,

you know, Miss Clinton-only the old line about two strings to your bow, renversé—as we used to say in Paris."

“As we used to say," said his cousin smiling.

Oh, deuce take it, Harry-you're so precise,—one word that you don't understand is as good as another. But I say, how charming Miss Clyde looks-and everybody!" "Mr. Penn is quite impartial in his admiration," said Miss Clinton.

Always was," said Penn. "I'm a sort of a bee-or a butterfly-I declare I don't know which, but I guess it's the butterfly. I wonder why people call bees so industrious? Butterflies go round just as much, only they dress up for the occasion and go by the force of sunshine. Now the bees seem moved by the mere power of business-or buzziness."

"You have been studying natural history, Mr. Penn," said Miss Clinton laughing.

"Oh yes-in the Champs Elysées,-good place that to study butterflies. Especially with a bee along to keep you in order. Harry is a nice bee, though he never

cries hum."

"And never stings, I hope-" said Miss Clinton insinuatingly.

"Ah, there's a question. But he don't plunge his sting so far in that you can't get it out,-and I suppose he'd tell you it was for your especial benefit, then."

"You would think Penn spoke from experience," said Mr. Raynor, "but I can assure you he is cased in armour of proof. Too nimble, moreover, and too skilled in intricate passages. Like the bee-moth-only not so mischievous."

"Too bad that, I declare," said Penn. "I shall not rest now till I have executed some desperate piece of mischief. Do you remember, Harry, how I carried off Miss Clyde's bouquet once?"

"Yes," said his cousin, rather gloomily.

"Carried it off? how ?" said Miss Clinton. "I shall hold mine very fast."

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