with its tremendous pages. Moreover, there was something
else. There was a certain light and trifling tone which she used in
referring to these things, and it pained him. He sat involved in a
long and very serious consideration of her case, and once or twice
looked at her with so very peculiar an expression that Minnie began to
feel very uneasy indeed.

Tozer at length cleared his throat, and fixed upon Minnie a very
affectionate and tender look.

"My dear young friend," said he, "have you ever reflected upon the way
you are living?"

At this Minnie gave him a frightened little look, and her head fell.

"You are young now, but you can't be young always; youth and beauty
and loveliness all are yours, but they can't last; and now is the time
for you to make your choice--now in life's gay morn. It ain't easy
when you get old. Remember that, my dear. Make your choice now--now."

"Oh dear!" said Minnie; "I knew it. But I can't--and I don't want
to--and I think it's _very_ unkind in you. I don't want to make _any_
choice. I don't want any of you. It's _so_ horrid."

This was a dreadful shock to Tozer; but he could not turn aside from
this beautiful yet erring creature.

"Oh, I entreat you--I implore you, my dear, _dear_--"

"I do _wish_ you wouldn't talk to me that way, and call me your
_dear_. I don't like it; no, not even if you _did_ save my life,
though really I didn't know there was any danger. But I'm not _your_
dear."

And Minnie tossed her head with a little air of determination, as
though she had quite made up her mind on that point.

"Oh, well now, really now," said Tozer, "it was only a natural
expression. I _do_ take a deep interest in you, my--that is--miss; I
feel a sincere regard and affection and--"

"But it's no use," said Minnie. "You really _can't,_ you know; and so,
why, you _mustn't_, you know."

Tozer did not clearly understand this, so after a brief pause he
resumed:

"But what I was saying is of far more importance. I referred to your
life. Now you're not happy as you are."

"Oh yes, but I am," said Minnie, briskly.

Tozer sighed.

"I'm _very_ happy," continued Minnie, "very, very happy--that is, when
I'm with dear, darling Kitty, and dear, dear Ethel, and my darling old
Dowdy, and dear, kind papa."

Tozer sighed again.

"You can't be _truly_ happy thus," he said, mournfully. "You may think
you are, but you _ain't_. My heart fairly yearns over you when I see
you, so young, so