Nobody

something; yet did not quite know what, and he did not stop to analyze the feeling. He walked away, wondering at himself for

and knew everybody. He had ceased to be surprised at anything, or to expect much from the world beyond what his own efforts and talents could procure him. His connections and associations had been always with good society and with the old and established portions of it; but he had come into possession of his property not so very long ago, and the pleasure of that was not yet w

ht or feeling at the moment. Therefore it could never be counted upon, and gave one the constant pleasure of surprises. Yes, Philip concluded that this was one point of interest about her. She had not learned how to hide herself, and the manner of her revelations was a continual refreshing variety, inasmuch as what she had to reveal was only fair and delicate and true. But what made the girl so provokingly happy? so secure in her contentment? Mr. Dillwyn thought himself a happy man; content with himself and with life; yet life had reached something too like a dead level, and himself, he was conscious, led a purposeless sort of existence. What purpose indeed was there to live for? But this little girl-Philip recalled the bright, soft, clear expression of eye with which she had looked at him; the very sweet curves of happy consciousness about her lips; the confident bearing with which she had spoken, as one who had found a treasure which, as she said, satisfied her. But it cannot! said Philip to himself. It is that she is pure and sweet, and takes happiness like a baby, sucking in what seems to her the pure milk of existence. It is true, the remembered expression of Lois's features did not quite agree with this explanation; pure and sweet, no doubt, but also grav

. He pondered and pondered. A girl who was nobody, and whom society would look upon as an intruder; a girl who had had no advantages of education-how she could express herself so well and so intelligently Philip could not conceive, but the fact was there; Lois had had no education beyond the most simple training of a school in the country;-would it do? He turned it all over and over, and shook his head. It would be too daring an experiment; it would not be wise; it would not do; he must

self, I had better not se

Mrs. Wishart came home a little while after Philip

your eyes out. Stop, and let us

went away hardly a q

missed him. But he wil

ng about this going wit

ey going for

he March win

ers? He does not

't either, does she? But, my dear, people are weak

o March wind

nges-and orange blossoms. But Tom is not delighted wi

very hand

t. Of course you have eyes. I want

much of Mr. Carut

have seen and mak

About people, I mean, and men especially. I a

rent from Shamp

ve

ow

g. "I suppose at bottom all people are alike; indeed, I kno

guise abo

hink

ch a set of masquer

is; "I did no

hilip Dillwyn? Comare h

n strikes me as a man who knows ev

you think,

hesitating; "at least he

impressed with

ssed with the sense of my own ignorance. I s

irl, as you are. Lois, men do no

ble me

It is odd enough, but it is a fact. But g

ou know. But, Mrs. Wishart, sensible

choice very often lights upon a fool. I have seen it over and over and over agai

hy

pair of black eyebrows, or

e upon a pair of black

that out

ed sense," said Lois. "I mean,

that Tom do

ishart was looking at; and Lois said som

ou about, when he comes back from Florida. I

e nor nonsense. I shall

whit

I have been wanting to

I must go in a

cannot get along without you. Th

ore now in a week or two; there will be more m

ust not do dairy work. Y

t do it. But Madge takes care of th

neces

getables; and you would not counsel us to do withou

ly cannot aff

is. "There are three of us,

st is must. What I wanted to say to you is, that it

o one but you, Mrs. Wishart. O yes! I did

o occasion, my dear. I

is the harm? Everybody a

is no reason why they should. I

told nobody bu

ly speak for the

Lois, half laughing. "Mrs. Wish

my dear; you h

e be ashamed of it

ing to be ashamed of. D

ere would not

hey _mis_und

r own interpretation on things; and of course they often make great blunders. And so it is just as

ilent a li

of these people I have been seeing here, would

. People are just st

n. "I do not like to be taken for what I am not; and I do not want to have an

u would judge you for yourself, and not upon any adventitious ci

ted privately that it did not matter, as she was going away so soon. And she remembered also that Mr.

r going- There is no garden wo

ground must be got ready, and

lse can stick in p

ot know where

t matte

ois, amused. "They must not

y n

so, the place where it grows is more or less impoverished, and would have less to give it another year

t. "Do you mean manure?

mean something the plant

l, my dear, write them wo

aughed

atter than you can guess, to arrange all the new order every spring; all has to be changed; and upon where the peas go

it for you?" Mrs. Wishar

three selves; and all that is done we do

, you must pay me a visit by and by in the summer time; I must have that; I s

home, dear Mrs. Wishart