respect, or esteem, Mr. Thurston, it is
necessary to deal with me in perfect sincerity. Nothing but truth will
ever be pleasing to me."

"Hang it," THOUGHT Tom, again, "who knows? She is whimsical, and may
really like to have the truth. It's quite clear her heart is as
insensible to eloquence and poetry, as a Potter's Field wall, and it
might answer to try her with a little truth. Your $80,000 girls get
SUCH notions in their heads, that there's no analogy, as one might say,
between them and the rest of the species. Miss Julia," continuing
aloud, "my nature is all plain-dealing, and I am delighted to find a
congenial spirit. You must have observed something very peculiar in my
language, at the commencement of this exceedingly interesting dialogue?"

"I will not deny it, Mr. Thurston; your language was, to say the least,
VERY peculiar."

"Lucid, but ambiguous; pathetic, but amusing; poetical, but
comprehensive; prosaical, but full of emphasis. That's my nature.
Plain-dealing, too, is my nature, and I adore the same quality in
others; most especially in those I could wish to marry."

"Does this wish, then, extend to the plural number?" asked Julia,
smiling a little maliciously.

"Certainly; when the heart is devoted to virtuous intentions, it wishes
for a union with virtue, where-ever it is to be found. Competence and
virtue are my mottoes, Miss Julia."

"This shows that you are, in truth, a lover of plain-dealing, Mr.
Thurston--and now, as to the handkerchief?"

"Why, Miss Julia, perceiving that you are sincere, I shall be equally
frank. You own this handkerchief?"

"Certainly, sir. I should hardly use an article of dress that is the
property of another."

"Independent, and the fruit of independence. Well, Miss Monson, it
struck me that the mistress of such a handkerchief MUST like
poetry--that is, flights of the imagination--that is, eloquence and
pathos, as it might be engrafted on passion and sentiment."

"I believe I understand you, sir; you wish to say that common sense
seemed misapplied to the owner of such a handkerchief."

"Far from that, adorable young lady; but, that poetry, and eloquence,
and flights of imagination, seem well applied. A very simple
calculation will demonstrate what I mean. But, possibly, you do not
wish to hear the calculation--ladies, generally, dislike figures?"

"I am an exception, Mr. Thurston; I beg you will lay the whole matter
before me, therefore, without reserve."

"It