ouble to think about the
matter; and to tell you the truth, I fear I should not much care, even
if I had.'

"'Ah, to be sure, you are differently situated from so many girls--with
your beauty and your great fortune, whatever you say or do will always
be thought charming--Oh, dear Miss Crawford, I did not mean that--indeed
I did not! Now you are vexed with me, I am sure.'

"'I am not quite bad tempered enough to take offence where none is
meant, Miss Eaton.'

"'Bad tempered? Why, I think you have the sweetest disposition I ever
knew! Mamma was saying only this morning, that you had a face like an
angel.'

"I doubted that, for I was confident Mrs. Eaton had no great
prepossession in my favor, but of course I let it pass.

"'I am so heedless,' moaned Lucy; 'I say everything that comes in my
head--mamma says she wishes I could acquire a little of your
dignity--but I never shall be like you--never.'

"The glance of self satisfaction which she cast in the mirror where her
pretty figure was reflected gracefully curled up among the sofa
cushions, was extremely amusing to me.

"'I think,' I said, 'that you may congratulate yourself on there being
no resemblance between us.'

"'Oh, that was not what I meant,' she replied. 'You are very beautiful,
and I am sure nobody would ever say that of poor little me.'

"I thought I had now talked all the nonsense that the most exaggerated
idea of courtesy could require, so I said--

"'You must not think me unkind, but--'

"'Unkind?' she repeated. 'I never knew you to have an unkind thought.
Whatever you do or say would always be considered charming.'

"'More pretty speeches,' said I, trying to laugh, for I had the grace to
feel a little ashamed of my ill humor. 'You quite overwhelm me with them
to-day--let me try my skill. Do you know that your dress is particularly
becoming, and that you are looking your very loveliest to-day?'

"'Oh, my! no,' returned she, glancing at herself in the opposite mirror.
'I don't think the dress pretty at all--it's mamma's taste--and I am
sure I am looking horribly. I told mamma I would not come in, only I was
certain there was nobody here beside you.'

"'I have not seen Mrs. Harrington since the General left,' I said, by
way of trying to bear my part in the conversation more than from any
other reason; 'but her son is with her.'

"'Mr. Harrington is so devoted to his mother,' exclaimed Lucy. 'Mamma
says that he is a model, and that so good a