I did? Was
Archie with me, I wonder? or, was it young Lord Hardy from Dublin,
Archie's best friend? He was with us there, and sometimes walked
with me when Archie was not inclined to go out. He is very nice, and
Archie is very fond of him, while to Bessie and me he is like a
brother."

Here Miss Betsey stopped again, and taking off her spectacles harangued
the tortoise-shell cat, who was sitting on the rug and looking at her.

"Archie's friend! her brother! Humbug! It does make me so mad to see a
married woman with a young snipper-snapper of a fellow chasing after
her, and using her husband as a cover. Mark my words, the woman who does
that is not a pure, good woman at heart, or in thought, though outwardly
she may be sweet as sugar; and her husband--

"Well, he is both weak and unmanly to allow it, and is looked upon with
contempt."

To all this Mrs. Tortoise-shell purred an assent, and the lady went on
with the letter.

"Bessie is wailing for me to go for a walk, and so I must bring this
letter to a close. Archie sends his love, and will, with me, be very
glad to welcome you to your old home, should you care to visit it.
When I was a child I thought it the grandest place in the world, but
it is very much run down, for we have no money with which to keep it
up, and have only the two servants, Anthony and Dorothy, both of
whom are getting old. And yet I do not complain of Archie for not
trying to do something. Once, however, before we were married I
tried to rouse him to something like energy, and caring for himself,
but since seeing the world, his world I mean, for you know of course
I am not what would be considered his equal socially, I have changed
my mind, and do not blame him at all. Brought up as he was with an
idea that he must not work, it is very hard for him to overcome
early prejudices of training and education, and I think his uncle,
the Hon. John, would be intensely mortified to have his nephew in
trade, though he is very careful not to give him any thing toward
his support, and we are so poor that even a hundred pounds would be
a fortune to us. Maybe some good angel will send it to us by and by.

"Hoping it most devoutly, I have the honor to be,

"Very sincerely, your niece,

"DAISY ALLEN McPHERSON.

"P.S.--Bessie thanks you again for the turquois ring you sent her."

"A hundred pounds!