o impress her favorably.

"The maid said Mrs. Owen and Marian are still out. I hope Mrs. Bassett
is better. I wonder if I can do anything for her."

"No, thank you; she's quite comfortable and will be down for dinner."

"I'm glad to hear that; suppose we find seats here."

She walked before him into the parlor and threw back the curtains the
better to admit the air. He watched her attentively, noting the ease and
grace of her movements, and took the chair she indicated.

"It's very nice to see Mrs. Bassett and Marian again; they were so good
to me that summer at Waupegan; I have carried the pleasantest memories
of that visit ever since. It seems a long time ago and it is nearly four
years, isn't it."

"Four this summer, I think. I remember, because I had been to Colorado,
and that whole year was pretty full for me. But all these years have
been busy ones for you, too, I hear. Your grandfather's death must have
been a great shock to you. I knew him only by reputation, but it was a
reputation to be proud of."

"Yes; Grandfather Kelton had been everything to me."

"It was too bad he couldn't have lived to see you through college; he
must have taken a great interest in your work there, through his own
training and scholarship."

"It was what he wanted me to do, and I wish he could have known how I
value it. He was the best of men, the kindest and noblest; and he was a
wonderful scholar. He had the habit of thoroughness."

"That, I suppose, was partly due to the discipline of the Navy. I fancy
that a man trained in habits of exactness gets into the way of keeping
his mind ship-shape--no loose ends around anywhere."

She smiled at this, and regarded him with rather more attention, as
though his remark had given her a new impression of him which her eyes
wished to verify.

"They tell me you expect to teach in the city schools; that has always
seemed to me the hardest kind of work. I should think you would prefer a
college position;--there would be less drudgery, and better social
opportunities."

"Every one warns me that it's hard work, but I don't believe it can be
so terrible. Somebody has to do it. Of course college positions are more
dignified and likely to be better paid."

He started to speak and hesitated.

"Well," she laughed. "You were going to add your warning, weren't you!
I'm used to them."

"No; nothing of the sort; I was going to take the liberty of saying that
if you cared to have me I should