father. I've never been able to conquer my aversion toward
him, since he vilified Annie's character, and caused her flight," said
she, wondering at her father's question.

"Then you do not wish to marry him?"

"Heavens! no."

"All right then. I'll see that you don't. Now run away, child."

"Dr. Prague, I'm astonished at you," exclaimed Mrs. Prague, in her most
towering style, as the door closed after Kate, "thus to pamper to the
follies of your offspring. Young people never know what is for their
interest. They should be held in perfect subjection to their parents'
wishes, and taught to obey their slightest commands."

"Very pretty, Mrs. Prague," remarked the doctor, carelessly, as his wife
paused for breath.

Whether he alluded to her logic or her face, we cannot say.

"Had Sheldon been discreet and saved his fortune," she resumed, "he
would have been the proper man for our Catherine."

"But he blundered and fell in love with Annie Evalyn."

"Faugh! don't mention that minx to me," said Mrs. Prague, with a sneer;
"but it must be confessed, Sheldon has very limited knowledge of
business, or he might have saved a part of his fortune at least. My
son-in-law, Esq. Hardin, by his alacrity and far-seeing judgment,
secured himself from material loss in the great land crash."

"Humph! quite as likely by his cunning and artful machinations."

"Dr. Prague, I'm astonished to hear you detract from the worth and
honesty of your son-in-law, even in our private conversation."

"I may repeat here what I've of late heard broached in public places,
that Hardin involved Sheldon in the speculations with the intention to
effect his ruin."

"Such groundless insinuations are worthy their originators," said Mrs.
Prague, in an angry, vehement tone.

"May be time will render us all wiser than we are now, madam."

"I hope it will," she answered, significantly, as with a lofty air she
rose from the luxurious sofa, and remarked, "I will now go down to
Marion's, and pass an hour in conversation with my son-in-law."

"Do so, madam," said the doctor, "and as you pass the office door, send
Kate up here with my cigar-case, if you please. It lies on the table
there."

And the majestic Mrs. Dr. Prague rustled her brocades into the private
parlor of her daughter Marion, just as the latter was hushing the
shrieks of a chubby little boy, who seemed nearly frantic with affright.

"What is the matter of him, Marion?" asked she.

"His fa