en the most self-denying of the two; but withal gazing on the
hoop of pearls which Alan had chosen as the ring of betrothal.

"The pearl of great price," murmured she to herself; "if we hold that,
the rest will soon matter but little. It remaineth that both they that
have wives, be as they that have none, and they that weep, as though
they wept not, and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not! If
ever Alan and I have a home together upon earth, may all too confident
joy be tempered by the fears that we have begun with! I hope this
probation may make me less likely to be taken up with the cares and
pleasures of his position than I might have been last year. He is one
who can best help the mind to go truly upward. But oh, that voyage!"

CHAPTER XXIX.

Heart affluence in household talk,
From social fountains never dry.--TENNYSON.

"What a bore!"

"What's the matter now?"

"Here has this old fellow asked me to dinner again!"

"A fine pass we are come to!" cried Dr. May, half amused, half irate.
"I should like to know what I should have said at your age if the
head-master had asked me to dinner."

"Papa is not so very fond of dining at Dr. Hoxton's," said Ethel. "A
whipper-snapper schoolboy, who might be thankful to dine anywhere!"
continued Dr. May, while the girls burst out laughing, and Norman looked
injured.

"It is very ungrateful of Norman," said Flora; "I cannot see what he
finds to complain of."

"You would know," said Norman, "if, instead of playing those perpetual
tunes of yours, you had to sit it out in that perfumy drawing-room,
without anything to listen to worth hearing. If I have looked over that
court album once, I have a dozen times, and there is not another book in
the place."

"I am glad there is not," said Flora. "I am quite ashamed to see you for
ever turning over those old pictures. You cannot guess how stupid you
look. I wonder Mrs. Hoxton likes to have you," she added, patting his
shoulders between jest and earnest.

"I wish she would not, then. It is only to escort you."

"Nonsense, Norman, you know better," cried Ethel. "You know it is for
your own sake, and to make up for their injustice, that he invites you,
or Flora either."

"Hush, Ethel! he gives himself quite airs enough already," said the
doctor.

"Papa!" said Ethel, in vexation, though he gave her a pinch to show it
was all in good humour, while he went on, "I am glad to hear they do
leave hi