e matter pretty
lightly."

"That's just what I blame her for," answered Miss Betty.

"Why so?" answered Cousin Hans, a little sharply; for, on the whole, he
did not like the way in which the young lady made her remarks. "Would
you have had her mope and pine away?"

"No, not at all," answered Miss Schrappe; "but, in my opinion, it would
have shown more strength of character if she had felt more indignant at
her _fiance's_ conduct."

"I should say, on the contrary, that it shows most admirable strength
of character that she should bear no ill-will and feel no anger; for
a woman's strength lies in forgiveness," said Cousin Hans, who grew
eloquent in defence of his lady-love.

Miss Betty thought that if people in general would show more indignation
when an engagement was broken off, as so often happened, perhaps young
people would be more cautious in these matters.

Cousin Hans, on the other hand, was of opinion that when a _fiance_
discovered, or even suspected, that he had made a mistake, and that what
he had taken for love was not the real, true, and genuine article, he
was not only bound to break off the engagement with all possible speed,
but it was the positive duty of the other party, and of all friends
and acquaintances, to excuse and forgive him, and to say as little
as possible about the matter, in order that it might the sooner be
forgotten.

Miss Betty answered hastily that she did not think it at all the right
thing that young people should enter into experimental engagements while
they keep a look out for true love.

This remark greatly irritated Cousin Hans, but he had no time to reply,
for at that moment the captain rose from the table.

There was something about Miss Schrappe that he really could not endure;
and he was so much absorbed in this thought that, for a time, he almost
forgot the melancholy intelligence that the beloved one--Miss Beck--was
leaving town to-morrow.

He could not but admit that the captain's daughter was pretty, very
pretty; she seemed to be both domestic and sensible, and it was clear
that she devoted herself to her old father with touching tenderness. And
yet Cousin Hans said to himself: "Poor thing, who would want to marry
her?"

For she was entirely devoid of that charming helplessness which is so
attractive in a young girl; when she spoke, it was with an almost odious
repose and decision. She never came in with any of those fascinating
half-finished sentences, suc