your dear mother and myself?"

"I am," said Ruperta, firmly; "I always was--especially after that
beautiful sermon, you know, mamma."

Says the proud mother, "You might tell Lady Bassett you think it is
your mission to reunite your father and Sir Charles."

"Mamma!" said Ruperta, reproachfully. That was to stop her mouth. "If
you tell all the wild things I say to you, her ladyship will think me
very presumptuous."

"No, no," said Lady Bassett, "enthusiasm is not presumption. Enthusiasm
is beautiful, and the brightest flower of youth."

"I am glad you think so, Lady Bassett; for people who have no
enthusiasm seem very hard and mean to me."

"And so they are," said Lady Bassett warmly.

But I have no time to record the full details of the conversation. I
can only present the general result. Lady Bassett thought Ruperta a
beautiful and noble girl, that any house might be proud to adopt; and
Ruperta was charmed by Lady Bassett's exquisite manners, and touched
and interested by her pale yet still beautiful face and eyes. They made
friends; but it was not till the third visit, when many kind things had
passed between them, that Lady Bassett ventured on the subject she had
at heart. "My dear," said she to Ruperta, "when I first saw you, I
wondered at my son Compton's audacity in loving a young lady so much
more advanced than himself; but now I must be frank with you; I think
the poor boy's audacity was only a proper courage. He has all my
sympathy, and, if he is not quite indifferent to you, let me just put
in my word, and say there is not a young lady in the world I could bear
for my daughter-in-law, now I have seen and talked with you, my dear."

"Thank you, Lady Bassett," said Mrs. Bassett; "and, since you have said
so much, let me speak my mind. So long as your son is attached to my
daughter, I could never welcome any other son-in-law. I HAVE GOT THE
TIPPET."

Lady Bassett looked at Ruperta, for an explanation. Ruperta only
blushed, and looked uncomfortable. She hated all allusion to the feats
of her childhood.

Mrs. Bassett saw Lady Bassett's look of perplexity, and said, eagerly,
"You never missed it? All the better. I thought I would keep it, for a
peacemaker partly."

"My dear friend," said Lady Bassett, "you are speaking riddles to me;
what tippet?"

"The tippet your son took off his own shoulders, and put it round my
girl, that terrible night they were lost in the wood. Forgive me
keeping it, Lady Bas