is horse at the gate, and went slowly up the walk,
wondering a little if they would be surprised. A bright light came from
Ernestine's window, and out from down stairs, falling across the porch
floor; and before ringing the bell, he paused a moment, and looked in.
How bright and homelike everything looked, and there, before the grate,
stood the very object of his visit, making the prettiest picture
imaginable, with a big kitchen apron on, her sleeves rolled up, and
reading a letter. He knew it was Kittie, in a moment, for in her hair
was a knot of scarlet ribbon, and the foot resting on the fender wore a
bow, of the same color, astride its slippered toe--little niceties that
Kat, was seldom, if ever, guilty of.

Beatrice answered his ring, and tried to look as though she had not
expected some one else, some one who would have given her a more cordial
greeting, than "Good evening, Miss Dering."

"Good evening, Mr. Murray; walk in, please, and I will call mama," said
Bea, ushering him into the sitting-room, with some little wonder, and
going up stairs.

Kittie had vanished with her letter; but as Mr. Murray sat down, he saw
the envelope on the table, and immediately experienced the most
peculiar and unpleasant sensation, on observing the masculine scrawls
thereon. What gentleman was writing to her? he wondered, with quick
resentment; and the next moment Kittie came in, and found him studying
that envelope closely. She had thrown off her apron, and let down her
sleeves, and he thought she looked prettier the other way, though he
found that either way she was suddenly invested with a stronger
attraction than ever; for a little competition will always make us more
eager, and the star of our desire much brighter. He explained, with a
laugh, as they sat down, that he had just been admiring the free, easy
chirography on the envelope; which same was a fib of first degree, but
then--

"It is Cousin Ralph's; I think it beautiful," said Kittie, unconsciously
obliging, but giving no relief, for Mr. Murray's mind went back to the
day he met "Cousin Ralph," handsome, manly fellow, and he remembered
that it was only second cousin, and that Ralph had been very attentive
to Kittie at the picnic, and that--oh, what didn't he think, all in a
few minutes; and how true it is that

"Trifles light as air, are to the jealous,
Confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ."

The rebound from a feeling of perfect security to one of