t her to her own way, as already the property of that great
firm of World & Co. which drives such sharp bargains for young souls with
the better angels. Cynthia studied her for her own purposes, but had
never gained her confidence. The Irish servant saw that some change had
come over her, and thought of the great ladies she had sometimes looked
upon in the old country. They all had a kind of superstitious feeling
about Myrtle's bracelet, of which she had told them the story, but which
Kitty half believed was put in the drawer by the fairies, who brought her
ribbons and partridge feathers, and other slight adornments with which
she contrived to set off her simple costume, so as to produce those
effects which an eye for color and cunning fingers can bring out of
almost nothing.

Gifted Hopkins was now in a sad, vacillating condition, between the two
great attractions to which he was exposed. Myrtle looked so immensely
handsome ere Sunday when he saw her going to church, not to meeting, for
she world not go, except when she knew Father Pemberton was going to be
the preacher, that the young poet was on the point of going down on his
knees to her, and telling her that his heart was hers and hers alone.
But he suddenly remembered that he had on his best trousers, and the idea
of carrying the marks of his devotion in the shape of two dusty
impressions on his most valued article of apparel turned the scale
against the demonstration. It happened the next morning, that Susan
Posey wore the most becoming ribbon she had displayed for a long time,
and Gifted was so taken with her pretty looks that he might very probably
have made the same speech to her that he had been on the point of making
to Myrtle the day before, but that he remembered her plighted affections,
and thought what he should have to say for himself when Clement Lindsay,
in a frenzy of rage and jealousy, stood before him, probably armed with
as many deadly instruments as a lawyer mentions by name in an indictment
for murder.

Cyprian Eveleth looked very differently on the new manifestations Myrtle
was making of her tastes and inclinations. He had always felt dazzled,
as well as attracted, by her; but now there was something in her
expression and manner which made him feel still more strongly that they
were intended for different spheres of life. He could not but own that
she was born for a brilliant destiny,--that no ball-room would throw a
light from its chan