urs to know William's--if he
has any."

"Upon my word, mother, mine are easily carried, I assure you."

"Suppose, papa," observed Agnes, good-humoredly, "that I was to fall in
love, now--as is not----

"Improbable that you may--you baggage," replied her father, smiling,
whilst he completed the sentence; "Well, and you would not tell me if
you did?"

"No indeed, sir; I should not. Perhaps I ought,--but I could not,
certainly, bring myself to do it. For instance, would it be either
modest or delicate in me, to go and say to your face, 'Papa, I'm in
love.' In that case the next step, I suppose, would be to make you the
messenger between us. Now would you not expect as much, papa, if I told
you?" said the arch and lively girl.

"Aggy, you are a presuming gipsy," replied the old man, joining in the
laugh which she had caused. "Me your messenger!"

"Yes, and a steady one you would make, sir--I am sure you would not, at
all events, overstep your instructions."

"That will be one quality essentially necessary to any messenger of
yours, Agnes," replied her father, in the same spirit.

"Papa," said she, suddenly changing her manner, and laying aside her
gayety, "what I said in jest of myself may be seriously true of another
in this family. Suppose Jane----"

"Jane!" exclaimed the old man;--"impossible! She is but a girl!--but
a child!" "Agnes, this is foolish of you," said her sister. "It is
possible, after all, that you are doing poor Jane injustice. Papa, Agnes
only speaks from suspicion. We are not certain of anything. It was I
mentioned it first, but merely from suspicion."

"If Jane's affections are engaged," said her father, "I tremble to think
of the consequences should she experience the slightest disappointment.
But it cannot be, Maria,--the girl has too much sense, and her
principles are too well established."

"What is it you mean, girls?" inquired their mother, in a tone of
surprise and alarm.

"Indeed, Agnes," said Maria, reprovingly, "it is neither fair nor
friendly to poor Jane, to bring out a story founded only on a mere
surmise. Agnes insists, mamma, that Jane is attached to Charles
Osborne."

"It certainly occurred to us only a few moments ago, I allow," replied
Agnes; "but if I am mistaken in this, I will give up my judgment in
everything else. And I mentioned it solely to prevent our own distress,
particularly papa's, with respect to the change that is of late so
visible in her conduct and ma