ts during this visit
of Clement's than he had ever before known. He wandered about with
a dreadfully disconsolate look upon his countenance. He showed a
falling-off in his appetite at tea-time, which surprised and disturbed
his mother, for she had filled the house with fragrant suggestions of
good things coming, in honor of Mr. Lindsay, who was to be her guest
at tea. And chiefly the genteel form of doughnut called in the native
dialect cymbal (Qu. Symbol? B. G.) which graced the board with its
plastic forms, suggestive of the most pleasing objects,--the spiral
ringlets pendent from the brow of beauty; the magic circlet, which is
the pledge of plighted affection,--the indissoluble knot, which typifies
the union of hearts, which organs were also largely represented; this
exceptional delicacy would at any other time have claimed his special
notice. But his mother remarked that he paid little attention to these,
and his, "No, I thank you," when it came to the preserved "damsels," as
some call them, carried a pang with it to the maternal bosom. The most
touching evidence of his unhappiness--whether intentional or the result
of accident was not evident was a broken heart, which he left upon his
plate, the meaning of which was as plain as anything in the language of
flowers. His thoughts were gloomy during that day, running a good deal
on the more picturesque and impressive methods of bidding a voluntary
farewell to a world which had allured him with visions of beauty only to
snatch them from his impassioned gaze. His mother saw something of this,
and got from him a few disjointed words, which led her to lock up the
clothes-line and hide her late husband's razors,--an affectionate, yet
perhaps unnecessary precaution, for self-elimination contemplated from
this point of view by those who have the natural outlet of verse
to relieve them is rarely followed by a casualty. It may rather be
considered as implying a more than average chance for longevity; as
those who meditate an--imposing finish naturally save themselves for it,
and are therefore careful of their health until the time comes, and this
is apt to be indefinitely postponed so long as there is a poem to write
or a proof to be corrected.

CHAPTER XX. THE SECOND MEETING.

Miss Eveleth requests the pleasure of Mr. Lindsay's company to meet a
few friends on the evening of the Feast of St. Ambrose, December 7th,
Wednesday.

THE PARSONAGE, December 6th.

It was the