What a character of sterner
times was Miss Josephine! I thought of Aunt Carola, but even she was not
quite of this iron, and I said so to Mrs. Gregory. "I doubt if there
be any old lady left in the North," I said, "capable of such antique
severity."

But Mrs. Gregory opened my eyes still further. "Oh, you'd have them
if you had the negro to deal with as we have him. Miss Josephine," she
added, "has to-day removed her sentence of banishment."

I felt on the verge of new discoveries. "What!" I exclaimed, "and did
she relent?"

"New circumstances intervened," Mrs. Gregory loftily explained.
"There was an occurrence--an encounter, in fact--in which John Mayrant
fittingly punished one who had presumed. Upon hearing of it, this
morning, Miss Josephine sent a message to John that he might resume
visiting her.

"But that is perfectly grand!" I cried in my delight over Miss Josephine
as a character.

"It is perfectly natural," returned Mrs. Gregory, quietly. "John has
behaved with credit throughout. He was at length made to see that
circumstances forbade any breach between his family and that of
the other young man. John held back--who would not, after such an
insult?--but Miss Josephine was firm, and he has promised to call and
shake hands. My cousin, Doctor Beaugarcon, assures me that the
young man's injuries are trifling--a week will see him restored and
presentable again."

"A week? A mere nothing!" I answered "Do you know," I now suggested,
"that you have forgotten to ask me what I was thinking about when we
met?"

"Bless me, young gentleman! and was it so remarkable?"

"Not at all, but it partly answers what Mrs. Weguelin St. Michael asked
me. If a young man does not really wish to marry a young woman there are
ways well known by which she can be brought to break the engagement."

"Ah," said Mrs. Gregory, "of course; gayeties and irregularities--"

"That is, if he's not above them," I hastily subjoined.

"Not always, by any means," Mrs. Gregory returned. "Kings Port has been
treated to some episodes--"

Mrs. Weguelin put in a word of defence. "It is to be said, Maria,
that John's irregularities have invariably been conducted with perfect
propriety."

"Oh," said Mrs. Gregory, "no Mayrant was ever known to be gross!"

"But this particular young lady," said Mrs. Weguelin, "would not be
estranged by an masculine irregularities and gayeties. Not many."

"How about infidelities?" I suggested. "If he should f