some blithe fairy, that
would be frightened out of sight by a harsh word or look.

She was just one of those creatures whom everybody fondles and pets, who
have sacrifices made for them which they are never capable of
appreciating. The loves and fears and hates of these flimsy creatures
are shallow and transient, though capable of leading them to great
lengths during their first fever; creatures whom we miss as we do
sunshine and flowers, or any other pretty thing; for they seem born to
feed upon the froth and honey-dew of life, and from that very fact take
with them, even towards middle age, a fund of light-heartedness and
joyous spirits, which is, in some sort, a return for the demands they
make upon others.

It seemed hard that a creature like this should have her youth burdened
with any secret; it was scarcely wonderful that she grew impatient and
spoke harshly to Elizabeth when she insisted upon forcing trouble on her
mind, which left to itself she was able, out of the very shallowness of
her nature, to throw aside so completely.

Wrong and cruel it seemed in Elizabeth to burden her thus--she should
have kept Elsie aloof from all domestic mysteries, whatever they might
be, and have borne her sorrow, her fears, perhaps her remorse, alone. It
was not easy to tell from her face or her words all that lay back of her
half-uttered despair. But she should have endured in silence things to
be held as far away from Elsie's joyousness and Elsie's youth as the
deep undercurrent of her character was apart from the bird-like
blitheness which made the girl so pleasant. Thus the world would have
judged had they seen these women standing there together.

CHAPTER XXVII.

COURTSHIP IN THE KITCHEN.

While they were still seated at the luncheon-table the door opened, and
Dolf came in with a flourish of bows to report his return to the master.

"So, there you are, Dolf," said Mr. Mellen, carelessly. "Did you lose
half the letters I gave you to deliver?"

Dolf drew himself up with a great deal of dignity.

"Master knows I'se trusty as Solomon's seal," he said. "De'pistles is
safe in de honorable hands for which dey was originally intended."

"I'm glad they went off at the right moment," said Elsie, laughing.

Dolf rather missed her play upon his mispronunciation of the word, but
he gave another magnificent flourish.

"Jes so, Miss Elsie; you've 'spressed it beautiful."

"How do you do, Dolf?" asked Mrs. Mellen, ki