own into her society
more often than circumstances had permitted heretofore. In the future,
he intended so to arrange that the young people should meet more
frequently. Dr. Medjora was willing to abide by the acts of
Providence, as long as they aided his own designs; when they failed to
do so, then he considered it time to control Providence, and guide it
to his will.

When Leon was admitted into the reception-room at Judge Dudley's, he
found Agnes reading. She laid aside her book and arose to greet him
cordially. He explained the object of his visit, and that he would
like to await the return of the Judge. Agnes therefore invited him to
be seated. His great fondness for books led him to utilize her reading
as a starting-point for conversation.

"I am sorry, Miss Dudley," he began, "that I have interrupted your
reading. May I be permitted to ask what book you have?"

"Certainly!" she replied. "I have been reading a novel!"

"Oh!" was all that Leon said, but the tone excited Agnes at once, for
in it she thought she detected a covert sneer.

"Do you never read novels?" she asked.

"I have little time for anything but science. I think that I have read
but two novels in my life."

"May I ask what they were?"

"George MacDonald's _Malcolm_ from which I named my dog 'Lossy,' and a
book called _Ardath_. I do not remember the name of the author."

"_Ardath_, and you do not remember the name of the author? She would
feel quite complimented at the impression made upon you, I am sure.
Perhaps you would like to refresh your memory?" Agnes spoke with a
tone of triumphant satisfaction, as she handed to him the book which
she held. He took it and read on the title-page, "_Ardath; The Story
of a Dead Self_; by Marie Corelli."

"This is a coincidence, is it not, Miss Dudley," said Leon, returning
the volume. "I suppose it was very stupid of me to forget the author's
name, but really I am so much more interested in the world of science,
that romance has little attraction for me. In the one we deal in
facts, while the other is all fiction."

"Is that your estimate of the relation existing between the two," said
Agnes, with a twinkle in her eye. She always delighted in an argument,
when she felt that she held the mastery of the situation, as she did
now. Therefore she entered the combat, about to begin, with a zest
equal to the love of debate which Leon possessed.

"You say that science deals only in facts. If you remember a