then I saw the top of his hat out of the
pantry window." Armed with this certain information, Lily entered the
drawing-room, and found Grace in the act of rising from the sofa.

"Am I disturbing you," said Lily.

"No; not at all. I am glad you have come. Kiss me, and be good to
me." And she twined her arms about Lily and embraced her.

"Am I not always good to you, you simpleton? Has he been good?"

"I don't know what you mean?"

"And have you been good to him?"

"As good as I knew how, Lily."

"And where is he?"

"He has gone away. I shall never see him any more, Lily."

Then she hid her face upon her friend's shoulder and broke forth
again into hysterical tears.

"But tell me, Grace, what he said;--that is, if you mean to tell me!"

"I will tell you everything;--that is, everything I can." And Grace
blushed as she thought of the one secret which she certainly would
not tell.

"Has he,--has he done what I said he would do? Come, speak out
boldly. Has he asked you to be his wife?"

"Yes," said Grace, barely whispering the word.

"And you have accepted him?"

"No, Lily, I have not. Indeed, I have not. I did not know how to
speak, because I was surprised;--and he, of course, could say what
he liked. But I told him as well as I could, that I would not marry
him."

"And why;--did you tell him why?"

"Yes; because of papa!"

"Then, if he is the man I take him to be, that answer will go for
nothing. Of course he knew all that before he came here. He did not
think you were an heiress with forty thousand pounds. If he is in
earnest, that will go for nothing. And I think he is in earnest."

"And so was I in earnest."

"Well, Grace;--we shall see."

"I suppose I may have a will of my own, Lily."

"Do not be sure of that. Women are not allowed to have wills of their
own on all occasions. Some man comes in a girl's way, and she gets to
be fond of him, just because he does come in her way. Well; when that
has taken place, she has no alternative but to be taken if he chooses
to take her; or to be left, if he chooses to leave her."

"Lily, don't say that."

"But I do say it. A man may assure himself that he will find for
himself a wife who shall be learned, or beautiful, or six feet
high, if he wishes it, or who has red hair, or red eyes, or red
cheeks,--just what he pleases; and he may go about till he finds it,
as you can go about and match your worsteds. You are a fool if you
buy a colour you don't