nd I will call
her."

"Oh, never mind, I'll go!" said Mrs. Harrington. "Gentlemen, I leave you
with Mrs. Mellen; but no flirtation, remember that!"

She fluttered, laughed a little, and shook her finger at the very young
man, who said "Aw!" while North seemed absorbed in the scenery. Then
away she flew, kissing her hand to them, and leaving Elizabeth to gather
up her weary thoughts and make an effort at entertaining these unwelcome
guests.

Mrs. Harrington found Elsie yawning over a new novel, and quite prepared
to be enlivened by the prospect of company.

"But I can't go down such a figure," she said; "just wait a minute. One
gets so careless in a house without gentlemen."

"Poor dear! I am sure you are moped."

"Oh, to death. It's dreadful!" sighed Elsie. "I feel things so acutely.
If I only had a little of Bessie's stoicism!"

"Yes, it's all very well; but you are made up of feeling," said the
widow. "Change your dress, dear. Oh, you've made a conquest of a certain
gentleman."

"What, that Hawkins! He's a fearful idiot!" cried Elsie. "But he'll do,
for want of a better."

The sensitive young creature had quite forgotten her low spirits, but
dressed herself in the most becoming morning attire possible, and
floated down to greet the guests and quite bewilder them with her
loveliness.

Hawkins had been mortally afraid of Mrs. Mellen, but with Elsie he could
talk, and Elizabeth sat quite stunned by the flood of frivolous nonsense
and the peals of senseless laughter which went on about her. As for Mr.
North, Elsie scarcely gave him a word after the first general
salutation.

After awhile Elizabeth managed to escape, on the plea that household
duties required her presence, and stole up to her room for a little
quiet. All at once she heard Tom Fuller's voice in the hall; opened her
dressing-room door, and there he stood in his usual disordered state.

"I've come to say good-bye," were his first words.

"Then you are really going, Tom?" she said, sorrowfully, taking his hand
and leading him into the chamber. "Oh, how sorry I am."

"Yes, I'm off to-morrow," he said, resolutely, running both hands
through his hair, and trying to keep his courage up. "A trip to Europe
is a splendid thing, Bess--I'm a lucky fellow to get it."

"I shall be all alone," she said, mournfully; "and I had depended on you
so much."

"Oh," cried Tom, "It's good of you to miss me--nobody else will! But
there, Bessie, don't you set m