and asking Margaret to come and visit her. Of
course, Margaret went, and has been all this time on a long visit to her
relative, who came to Europe with the great prima donna, Olympia. It is
her adopted daughter that is coming out."

"Olympia. Yes, I saw her in America last year--a wonderfully beautiful
creature, in a certain way; but her style of acting is not exactly what
I should choose for you, Lady Clara, though her voice is wonderful."

"Oh, it isn't her I care about, but the young lady. Margaret says she is
lovely as an angel, with a heavenly voice, but that she is frightened to
death at coming on the stage, and begs and pleads with her mother not to
insist on it; but Olympia is determined. My heart quite aches for this
poor girl. She is about my age, Margaret says, and so beautiful--not a
bit like me. I dare say it's true, for I would give the world to be an
actress, and have the whole world go mad over my singing. By-the-way,
Mr. Closs, do you know that I can sing? Mamma Rachael often says, if I
were not a lady, I might go on the stage and beat half the prima donnas;
besides, she says, I am a natural actress, and that seems to displease
her."

"I think you are a natural actress," said Closs, with a tinge of
sarcasm, for this whole subject displeased him, he scarcely could have
told why.

"Now you mean to be unkind," said Clara, rising, with a warm flush in
her cheeks; "I will not ask another favor of you."

Clara gathered up her embroidery, and prepared to leave the sheltered
seat in which this conversation had been held. She certainly was not
acting now, for Closs saw that her eyes were full of tears.

"Clara," he said, holding out both hands; "Clara, forgive me."

She hesitated a minute, then set down her basket, and crept close to his
side, wiping the tears with one hand, while he clasped the other. Then
she snatched her hand away, and held it behind her.

"No--I won't forgive you."

"Not if I persuade Lady Hope to take you up to London for this
appearance?"

"Ah, then, perhaps."

"And go with you myself?"

"That will be splendid."

"That Olympia is a magnificent creature. I took supper with her once in
New York."

"You, Mr. Closs! You took supper with her?"

"She sang for us that night, divinely."

"And you admire her so much?"

"Very much."

"Mr. Closs, I do not think I care to go. There is no need of your asking
Lady Hope--I decline the whole thing."

"Still, I think we will go,