ll accept. I will go in and
ask her. Here is your hat."

"Thank you," said Gertrude, and would have taken it; but Ben still held
it by one string, and said----

"Then you won't go, Miss Gertrude?"

"My engagement with Miss Emily cannot be postponed on any account,"
answered Gertrude, thankful that she had so excellent a reason for
declining.

"Nonsense!" said Mr. Bruce; "you could go with me if you chose; and if
you don't, I shall certainly invite Miss Kitty."

The weight he seemed to attach to this threat astonished Gertrude. "Can
it be possible," thought she, "that he expects thus to pique and annoy
me?" and she replied by saying, "I shall be happy if my declining prove
the means of Kitty's enjoying a pleasant drive; she is fond of variety,
and has few opportunities here to indulge her taste."

They now entered the house. Mr. Bruce sought Kitty in the recess of the
window, and Gertrude, not finding Emily present, stayed but a short time
in the room--long enough, however, to observe Mr. Bruce's exaggerated
devotion to Kitty, which was marked by others beside himself. Kitty
promised to accompany him the next day, and did so. Mrs. Graham, Mrs.
Bruce, Belle, and the lieutenant, went also in another vehicle, and
Emily and Gertrude took a different direction, and driving white Charlie
in the old-fashioned buggy, rejoiced in their quiet independence.

CHAPTER XXX.

VANITY.

Days and weeks passed on, and no marked event took place in Mr. Graham's
household. The weather became intensely warm, and no more walks and
drives were planned. The lieutenant left the city, and Isabel, who could
neither endure with patience excessive heat nor want of society, grew
more irritable than ever.

To Kitty, however, these summer days were fraught with interest. Mr.
Bruce visited constantly at the house, and had great influence upon her
outward demeanour and her inward happiness, which fluctuated as his
attentions were freely bestowed or altogether suspended. No wonder the
poor girl was puzzled to understand one whose conduct was certainly
inexplicable to any but those initiated into his motives. Believing, as
he did, that Gertrude would in time show a disposition to win him back,
he was anxious only to carry his addresses to Kitty to such a point as
would excite a serious alarm in the mind of the poor _protegee_ of the
Grahams, who dared to slight his proffered advances. Acting then as he
did almost wholly with reference t