mable parents are so greatly
interested in the father of those wretched scamps?"

"Nothing that my father and mother do, Mr. Bartram," said Miss Prency,
"is at all strange. They are quite as intelligent as anyone of my
acquaintance, I am sure, and more so than most people whom I know, and
I have no doubt that their interest in the poor fellow has very good
grounds."

"Perhaps so," said the young man, with another curl of his lip, which
exasperated his companion. "I sometimes wonder, however, whether men
and women, when they reach middle life and have been reasonably
successful and happy in their own affairs, are not likely to allow
their sympathies to run away with their intelligence."

"It may be so," said Eleanor, "among people of your acquaintance, as a
class, but I wish you distinctly to except my parents from the rule."

"But, my dear girl," said the young man, "your parents are exactly the
people to whom I am alluding."

"Then do me the favor to change the subject of conversation," said the
young lady proudly: "I never allow my parents to be criticised in my
hearing by anyone but myself."

"Oh, well," said the young man, "if you choose to take my remarks in
that way, I presume you are at liberty to do so; but I am sure you are
misunderstanding me."

"I don't see how it is possible to misunderstand anything that is said
so very distinctly: you lawyers have a faculty, Mr. Bartram, of saying
exactly what you mean--when you choose to."

"Well, I can't deny that I meant exactly what I said."

"But you can at least change the subject, can't you?"

"Certainly, if you insist upon it; but the subject has been
interesting me considerably of late, and I am really wondering whether
my estimable friend, the judge, and his no less estimable wife may not
be making a mistake which their daughter would be the most effective
person in rectifying."

"You do me altogether too much honor, sir. Suppose you attempt to
rectify their mistakes yourself, since you seem so positive about their
existence. To give you an opportunity of preparing yourself to do so, I
will bid you good day." Saying which, the young woman abruptly turned
into the residence of an acquaintance to make an afternoon call,
leaving the young man rather more disconcerted than he would have liked
to admit to any of his acquaintances.

He retraced his steps, moodily muttering to himself, and apparently
arguing also, for the forefinger of one hand was occasi