nger."

"And who is it to be?"

"Ah, who is it to be? Can you make a guess?"

"Not in the least. I don't know of anybody who has been spooning
you."

"Oh, what a term to use! No one can say that anyone ever--spooned me.
It is a horrible word. And I cannot bear to hear it fall from my own
lips."

"It is what young men do do," said Mrs. Green.

"That I think depends on the rank in life which the young men
occupy;--and also the young women. I can understand that a Bank clerk
should do it to an attorney's daughter."

"Well; who is it you are going to marry without spooning, which in
my vocabulary is simply another word for two young people being fond
of each other?" Miss Altifiorla remained silent for a while, feeling
that she owed it to herself to awe her present companion by her
manner before she should crush her altogether by the weight of
the name she would have to pronounce. Mrs. Green had received her
communication flippantly, and had probably felt that her friend
intended to demean herself by some mere common marriage. "Who is to
be the happy swain?" asked Mrs. Green.

"Swain!" said Miss Altifiorla, unable to repress her feelings.

"Well; lover, young man, suitor, husband as is to be. Some word
common on such occasion will I suppose fit him?"

Miss Altifiorla felt that no word common on such occasions would fit
him. But yet it was necessary that she should name him, having gone
so far. And, having again been silent for a minute, so as to bethink
herself in what most dignified language this might be done, she
proceeded. "I am to be allied,"--again there was a little pause,--"to
Sir Francis Geraldine!"

"Him Cecilia Holt rejected!"

"Him who I think was fortunate enough to escape Cecilia Holt."

"Goodness gracious! It seems but the other day."

"Cecilia Holt has since recovered from her wounds and married another
husband, and is now suffering from fresh wounds. Is it odd that the
gentleman should have found some one else to love when the lady has
had time not only to love but to marry, and to be separated from
another man?"

"Sir Francis Geraldine!" ejaculated Mrs. Green. "Well; I'm sure
I wish you all the joy in the world. When is it to be?" But Mrs.
Green had so offended Miss Altifiorla by her manner of accepting the
news that she could not bring herself to make any further gracious
answer. Mrs. Green therefore took her leave, and the fact of Miss
Altifiorla's engagement was soon known all over E