ss at the girls in surprise. "I
wonder you are not in constant dread that some of them might not do the
correct thing when you are not near with your instructions. How wonderful
that you can trust them alone so much! Nina seems a child in comparison."

Dexie was mentally comparing Nina to a big, useless doll; for she had to
conclude that Nina cared for nothing but "to be dressed up and wait in the
parlor for callers."

The girls coaxed Nina away from her mother's side while the latter was
talking to Mrs. Gurney; but directly she was asked a question she wanted to
rush back to her mother, and see how she should answer it.

"But don't you know yourself whether you like music or not?" Dexie asked
her, as Nina vainly endeavored to catch her mother's eye. "Do you not play
or sing, Miss Gordon?"

Nina picked at her gloves in embarrassment as she replied, with a simper:

"Well, I play scales on the piano sometimes."

"Then you _are_ fond of music, I suppose," said Cora, pleasantly.

"Well, I think I am. I will ask mamma; she knows if I like it. Is it quite
correct to like music, do you think?"

The silly look which accompanied this speech made Dexie almost disgusted
with her, but she turned to Cora and smiled significantly.

"Well," said Dexie, when her double had taken her departure, "she has tired
me out; but with that chin what can anyone expect? It tells her character
at a glance."

"Tell us your opinion of her," said Cora. "Do _you_ see the great
difference there is between you?"

"Why, she is different every way. First in importance is temper; there she
has the best of me, for she is as mild as milk-and-water, and I own it
certainly is not the 'correct thing' to get into such rages as I do. She
gives the impression that she is never determined about anything, and
anyone can persuade her that this, or that is right, as she has no mind to
solve the matter for herself. She will go through life depending on
another's conscience to keep her straight; but with that chin what else
could she do?"

"What does her chin say?" said Cora, smiling.

"'Unstable as water; unstable as water.' I saw the words every time I
glanced at her."

For the next few days Dexie endured much teasing about her intelligent
_double_; but she bore it all so good-naturedly that it soon died away.

Much to everyone's surprise, Dexie endeavored to see Nina frequently, and
tried to induce her to visit them often; and Dexie laughingly gave as