fear her own daughter. She
made allowances for her youth, and therefore for her sentimentalities,
which she thought were as much a part of it as her flexible figure or
her fine complexion. "This primitive gentleman from the plains has had
it all his own way," she thought. "If we had more company, he would
have been less remarkable. But company would have interfered with
Henry's great work, and it has been hard enough to keep the necessary
quiet for his writing, as it is. However, we shall go to New York soon;
and then _adieu!_ Mr. Van Hoosen. He sings a song about the 'Maids of
California.' I shall tell him it will be proper at his age to make a
selection very soon from them."

Under circumstances like these, the summer and the autumn passed away
like a vivid dream. Adriana was much at Filmer Hall; and Rose very
frequently spent the day with Adriana in her home. Mrs. Filmer was too
wise to oppose the constant companionship. She regarded it merely as a
contingent of country life; and she quieted any irritable thoughts by
the reflection that her daughter would marry early, and have other
interests, and then put away her girlish, immature predilections of
every kind. And in the meantime, she was rather glad that Rose should
have an "interest," for Rose could make herself very tiresome if she
was without one.

At length the chrysanthemums were beginning to bloom, and Mrs.
Filmer spoke decidedly of a return to the city. Mr. Filmer had
written a whole chapter of his book, and felt the need of change and
mental rest; and Mrs. Filmer reminded Rose that her costumes for
the coming season were all to buy; and the house was not yet put in
order for the winter's entertaining. Harry said they were leaving
the country just when it was most charming; but even Harry was not
averse to an entire reconstruction of his life. He was still
deeply in love with Adriana, and strongly attached to Antony, but he
was a little tired of walking, and driving, and boating. The idea of
his club, of the opera, and the theatres, of dinners and dances,
came pleasantly into his imagination.

Then arrived the time of displaced furniture, and of days sad with the
unrest of packing and the uncertainties of parting. Harry began to
think; and Antony thought more positively than he had ever before
done. Adriana was silent and full of vague regrets; she had dreamed
such a happy dream all summer; would the winter days carry it away?
Rose was also quiet and a