ry out her
meaning.

"It's lucky he was so big," remarked Sophie, very innocently, "or you
might not have been able to see so much of him in such a little time."

"Sophie!" said Cornelia, after a silence of some moments, speaking with
tragic deliberation, "you're making fun of me; I think you're very
unkind. I don't see what there is to laugh at in what I said; and if
there was any thing, I think _you_ might not laugh."

"O Neelie--dear Neelie!" exclaimed Sophie, coloring with regret and
shame; "I didn't think you'd mind it; it was only my foolishness. Don't
think I meant to be unkind to you, dear. I wish the man had never come
here, whoever he is, if he is to come between us in any way. Won't you
forgive me, darling?" and she held out her hand to Cornelia with a
wistful, beseeching look in her eyes that thawed her sister's resentment
immediately, and after a very brief struggle to preserve her dignity,
she subsided with her face upon the pillow beside her sister's.

"We won't ever quarrel or any thing again, will we, Sophie?" said she,
after a while.

"Never about that gentleman, at all events!" answered Sophie; and then
they both laughed and kissed each other to seal the bargain.

Once, long afterward, Cornelia remembered that kiss, and the words that
had accompanied it; and pondered over the bitter significance with which
the simple act and playful agreement had become fraught.

But now, the subject was soon forgotten, and they fell to talking about
the dresses once more; nor was the topic by any means exhausted when
they were interrupted by the professor's voice calling to them from
below.

CHAPTER IV.

A BUSINESS TRANSACTION.

Professor Valeyon led the way to the study, stood his cane in the
corner, and placed a chair for his guest, in silence. "Just like his
father!" said he to himself, as he repaired to the mantel-piece for his
pipe; "not a bit of his mother about him. Who'd have thought so sickly a
baby as they said he was, would have grown into such a giant?--Smoke?"
he added, aloud.

"You must talk loud to me--I'm deaf," said the young man, with his hand
to his ear.

"Pleasant thing in a pupil, that!" muttered the old gentleman, as he
filled his pipe and lit it. "How it reminds one of his father--that
bright questioning look, when he leans forward! One might know who he
was by that and nothing else!" He sat down in his chair, and ruminated a
moment.

"Hardly expected you up here so so