The Beloved Woman

ever occurred to her to consider a fortunate marriage engagement as anything but a matter of course, in her case.

h steadier head. Presents rained upon Leslie, and every one of them was astonishingly handsome and valuable; newspapers clamoured for her picture, and wherever she went she was immediately the focus for all eyes. That old Judge Lee should send her some of his mother's beautiful diamonds; that Christopher and Al

ists or writing of notes, and bullied her own autocratic modiste into promising at least half of the trousseau. It was Annie who decided that the marriage must be at a certain Park Avenue church, and at a certain hour, and that the reception at the house must be arranged in a

ne said it must be, for so hideous a combat could not possibly last more than six or eight months-then they would go to England and the Co

and deferential, but always with the air of sparing a few glittering drops to their age and dulness from the overflowing cup of her youth and beauty and power. But with her grandmother and aunts she had a new attitude of self-confidence, and to her girl friends she was no longer the old intimate and equal, but a being who had, for the moment at least, left them all behind. She would show them the new silver, the new linens, the engagement-time frocks that were in themselves a trousseau, and wish that Doris or Marion or Virginia were engaged, too; it was such fun! And with older women, the débutantes of six and eight and ten years ago, who had failed of all this glory, who could only listen sweetly to the chatter of plans

her. Necessarily, even the handsomest of country homes, if ten years old, needs an almost complete renovation, and this renovation Acton and Leslie, guid

. But Acton could bring his pretty sweetheart home from a dinner now and then, and come into the old Melrose house for a precious

er guilty feeling in regard to this lovely aunt. It was really hard, rising at noon, and trying to see and please so many persons, to keep in close touch with the patient and uncomplaining invalid, who

ss Sheridan who had called upon Leslie's grandmother on the first day of that m

st like his brother, and recalled herself to Leslie before offering her all sorts of good wishes. Norma, hoping that it would some day occur, had indeed anticipated this meeting with Leslie by a

"She loves Christina Rossetti, and she knew the 'Hound of Heaven' by heart, and she has promised

d Leslie added: "Aunt Alice, you do look tired! Not that talking poe

y!" Alice said. "Pour the tea, Kitten. What have you

Guilbert," Leslie said. "

d I've always known I would adore

nced at h

e another mat

cton. "Is it two weeks fro

note on her ivory memoranda pages, as she nodded to Norma.

only meant--" she began to stammer, half laughin

I can't"-Alice said, smiling-"I can't do anything for little Miss

led down at her as he gave her her teacup, and Leslie laughed outright. Acton was a person of few words, but when he chose to talk, Leslie found his manner amusi

ad had Chris Liggett as their inspiration? If she did, she gave no sign of it beyond the bright flush with which she greeted her oldest acquaintance in this group. Christopher sa

it, too. The three departed in high spirits, Alice detaining the radiant and excited Norma long enough to exact from her the promise of another visit soon

giggle, almost aloud, in her pleasure and exhilaration at an afternoon that had gone without a single awkward minute, all pleasant, harmonious, and vaguely flattering. And the wonderful Mrs. Liggett had asked her to come soo

en were running after rolling hats, and at least the milliners' windows were radiant with springtime bloom. Children were playing in Norma's street, wrapped and muffled children, wild with joy to be out of doors ag