Nobody

everal visits at Mrs. Wishart's. A certain marriage connection between the families gave him somewhat the familiar right of a cousin; he could go when he pleased; and Mrs. Wishart li

to go to the South for the month of March, and she must necessarily have his escort. Lois said little. Mrs. Wishart feared, or hoped, she felt the more. A little absence is no harm, the lady thought; may be no harm. But now Lois bega

the business world, with all the accessories thereof, were as interesting as the gayer regions and the lighter life of fashion. Mrs. Wishart had occasion to go to a banker's in Wall Street; she had business at the Post Office; she had something to do which took her to several furrier's shops; she visited a particular magazine of varieties in Maiden Lane, where things, she told Lois, were about half the price they

Lois, are

have been too

to gold. Well, I will make some silver turn to fruit presently. I want my lunch, and I know you do. I should like to have you with me always

" said Lois

nothings

that sort of gold as I go along. But at home our life has a great

dullest old story, the whole of it. I feel as dusty now, mentally, as I am outw

There had been a fire, it seemed, that morning, in a house adjoining or very near, and loungers and firemen and an engine and hose took up all the

where to go. Everybody has had lunch at home by this

ther restaurant

t eat in comfort unless

the others I don't kn

t was entering the car. Apparently he was an old acquain'tance, for the recognition

from," said he, "th

ll over; and now the depths of despair, that w

oes tha

staurant I knew; and to-day of all days, and just as we come tired out to get some refreshment, t

me the honour and give me the pleasure of lunching wi

l table, near enough to one of the great clear windows for Lois to look down into the Avenue and see all that was going on there. But first the place where she was occupied her. With a kind of wondering delight her eye went down the lines of the immense room, reviewed its loftiness, its adornments, its light and airiness and beauty; its perfection of luxurious furnishing and outfitting. Few people were in it just at this hour, and the few were too far off t

d, no doubt, and in numbers; it was not the mere lines, nor the mere colours of her face, which made it so remarkable, but rather the mental character. The beautiful poise of a spirit at rest within itself; the simplicity of unconsciousness; the freshness of a mind to which nothing

t. Chocolate which was a rich froth; rolls which were puff balls of perfection; salad,

dare, before L

entertainer's eyes

keep your conscie

But you know, Mr. Dillwyn, in presence of

he angels would be uncomfor

e gentleman added, Then

w what that i

uple of Fr

w French," sa

e, and true with the clearness of the blue ether. He thought he wou

is it abou

Lois answered, looking, however, at her choco

when we see it; and most of the rest have an intimate acquain'tance with wine or some thing else that is

nions, or practice, could have very l

ugh to form her own opinio

enough to build them

brought out by this challenge; "but I do not know th

grateful for suc

olour rising a little, while she smiled too. "One is this-'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' A

oubted astonishment. He regarded the gentle and yet bold speaker with steady attention for a minute or two, n

ough for such a superstructure as you would build on them." And then he turned to Mrs. Wishart again, an

any pictures in her life which were much to her. And the talk about countries sounded strange. She knew where Germany was on the map, and could give its boundaries no doubt accurately; but all this gossip about the Rhineland and its vineyards and the vintages there and in France, sounded fascinatingly novel. And she knew where Italy was on the map; but Italy's skies, and soft air, and mementos of past times of history and art, were unknown; and she listened with ever-quickening attention. The result of the whole at last was a mortifying sense that she knew nothing. These people, her friend and this other, lived in a world of mental impressions and mentally stored-up knowledge, which seemed to make their life unendingly broader and richer than her own. Especially the gentle

tertainer here, "will you all

white bunch was laid before her. "People who live in N

n pay for it," Mr

e world?" said Mr. Dillwyn. "

ishes in," said Lois. "You can have stra

ep your wishes in?" w

t to have as fe

e to a mere framework of l

thing else to fill

te? For with wishes I connect

always c

rally, the one are th

I do not

itute, Miss Lothrop, to fill up your l

e the pleasures that come without being wished for. I

ked their entertainer, with a

ried Lois; and then

rt," said the gentleman. "Do you think I may presume

ture is a commodity I n

enlarge my circle of knowledge. Will you tell me, Miss Lothrop, what

not believe you would understan

y understanding l

ng, "for your enjoyment

e, and tell me th

next thought was, What matter! So, after a

ld seem very little. But every morning it is a pleasure to me to wake and see the sun rise; and the fields, and the river, and the Sound, are a constant delight to m

me. Would it be indiscreet, if I were to ask Miss Lothrop w

indiscreet, and wished Lois would be a little reticent a

. We have a little farm, very small; it just keeps a few cows and sheep. In the house we are three

not do that last?"

r, and we spin the wool, and we cultivate our garden. That we do ourselves entirely; and we have a goo

you do in

cept ploughing. We get

he dig

" said Lois

do

ainly

eeds, and

ng the fruit, and pulling the vegetables, and the care of them when we have got them; and I take great pleasure in it all.

except the

I do not except the digging. I like it particula

r certainly not at you. If at anybody, it

r," said Lois. "We just have it

had to do anything in my l

ad talked a great deal more than she meant to do. Perhaps Mrs. Wishart too thoug

have to thank you for the greatest pl

in a distressed condition when you found us. Come and see me. And," she added sotto voce as he was leading her out, and

licious c

ears," added Mrs. Wish

me worthy. I will n

ng; "I was not consulted. Young eyes see the world in the f

wyn accompanied the ladies a part of