o pretty, so frank, and so impulsive," he said. "Such women
are always misconstrued. I'm resolved to caution her."

"Lillie," he said, "who is this Danforth?"

"Charlie Danforth--oh! he's a millionnaire that I refused. He was wild
about me,--is now, for that matter. He perfectly haunts my rooms, and
is always teasing me to ride with him."

"Well, Lillie, if I were you, I wouldn't have any thing to do with
him."

"John, I don't mean to, any more than I can help. I try to keep him
off all I can; but one doesn't want to be rude, you know."

"My darling," said John, "you little know the wickedness of the world,
and the cruel things that men will allow themselves to say of women
who are meaning no harm. You can't be too careful, Lillie."

"Oh! I am careful. Mamma is here, you know, all the while; and I never
receive except she is present."

John sat abstractedly fingering the various objects on the table; then
he opened a drawer in the same mechanical manner.

"Why, Lillie! what's this? what in the world are these?"

"O John! sure enough! well, there is something I was going to ask you
about. Danforth used always to be sending me things, you know, before
we were married,--flowers and confectionery, and one thing or other;
and, since I have been here now, he has done the same, and I really
didn't know what to do about it. You know I didn't want to quarrel
with him, or get his ill-will; he's a high-spirited fellow, and a man
one doesn't want for an enemy; so I have just passed it over easy as I
could."

"But, Lillie, a box of cigarettes!--of course, they can be of no use
to you."

"Of course: they are only a sort of curiosity that he imports from
Spain with his cigars."

"I've a great mind to send them back to him myself," said John.

"Oh, don't, John! why, how it would look! as if you were angry, or
thought he meant something wrong. No; I'll contrive a way to give 'em
back without offending him. I am up to all such little ways."

"Come, now," she added, "don't let's be cross just the little time you
have to stay with me. I do wish our house were not all torn up, so
that I could go home with you, and leave Newport and all its bothers
behind."

"Well, Lillie, you could go, and stay with me at Gracie's," said John,
brightening at this proposition.

"Dear Gracie,--so she has got a house all to herself; how I shall miss
her! but, really, John, I think she will be happier. Since you would
insist on revolutioniz