nd listened with a vague effort at interest to Mrs.
Trent's maternal gossip about the boys' college expenses, Bertha's
household, and Jenny's approaching social _debut_ He was continually
full of a feverish longing to hear of Bertha,--to hear her name spoken,
her ingoings and out-comings discussed, her looks, her belongings.

"The fact is," said Mrs. Trent, as the winter advanced, "I am anxious
about Bertha. She does not look strong. I don't know why I have not
seen it before, but all at once I found out yesterday that she is really
thin. She was always slight and even a little fragile, but now she is
actually thin. One can see the little bones in her wrists and fingers.
Her rings and her bracelets slip about quite loosely."

"And talking of being thin, mother," cried Jenny, who was a frank,
bright sixteen-year-old, "look at cousin Ralph himself. He has little
hollows in his cheeks, and his eyes are as much too big as Bertha's. Is
the sword wearing out the scabbard, Ralph? That is what they always say
about geniuses, you know."

"Ralph has not looked well for some time," said Mrs. Trent. "As for
Bertha, I think I shall scold her a little, and M. Villefort too. She
has been living too exciting a life. She is out continually. She must
stay at home more and rest. It is rest she needs."

"If you tell Arthur that Bertha looks ill "--began Jenny.

Edmondstone turned toward her sharply. "Arthur!" he repeated. "Who is
Arthur?"

Mrs. Trent answered with a comfortable laugh.

"It is M. Villefort's name," she said, "though none of us call him
Arthur but Jenny. Jenny and he are great friends."

"I like him better than any one else," said Jenny stoutly. "And I wish
to set a good example to Bertha, who never calls him anything but M.
Villefort, which is absurd. Just as if they had been introduced to each
other about a week ago."

"I always hear him address her as Madame Villefort," reflected
Edmondstone, somewhat gloomily.

"Oh yes!" answered Jenny, "that is his French way of studying her
fancies. He would consider it taking an unpardonable liberty to call her
'Bertha,' since she only favors him with 'M. Villefort.' I said to him
only the other day, 'Arthur, you are the oddest couple! You're so grand
and well-behaved, I cannot imagine you scolding Bertha a little, and
I have never seen you kiss her since you were married.' I was half
frightened after I had said it. He started as if he had been shot,
and turned as pale as