her;
and at any rate she wanted the bitter-sweet pleasure of arguing with
him. Nothing might come of it, but she must have the talk if she could.
So she took the first chance that offered.

The family atmosphere was a little oppressive the next morning; and
after breakfast Mr. and Mrs. Dallas both disappeared. Betty seized her
opportunity, and reminded Pitt that he had never showed her his
particular room, his old workshop and play place. 'It was not much to
see,' he said; however, he took her through the house, and up the open
flight of steps, where long ago Esther had been used to go for her
lessons. The room looked much as it had done at that time; for during
Pitt's stay at home he had pulled out one thing after another from its
packing or hiding place; and now, mounted birds and animals, coins,
shells, minerals, presses, engravings, drawings, and curiosities, made
a delightful litter; delightful, for it was not disorderly; only gave
one the feeling of a wealth of tastes and pursuits, every one of them
pursued to enjoyment. Betty studied the place and the several objects
in it with great and serious attention.

'And you understand all these things!' said she.

'So little, that I am ashamed to speak of it.'

'I know!' said Betty; 'that is what nobody says whose knowledge is
small. It takes a good deal of knowing to perceive how much one does
_not_ know.'

'That is true.'

'And what becomes of all these riches when you are gone away?'

'They remain in seclusion. I must pack them up to-day. It is a job I
have reserved to the last, for I like to have them about while I am
here.'

He began as he spoke to put away some little articles, and got out
paper to wrap up others.

'And how came you by all these tastes? Mr. and Mrs. Dallas do not share
them, I think.'

'No. Impossible to say. Inherited from some forgotten ancestor,
perhaps.'

'Were there ever any Independents or Puritans among your ancestors?'

'No!' said Pitt, with a laughing look at her. 'The record is clean, I
believe, on both sides of the house. My mother has not that on her
conscience.'

'But you sympathize with such supposititious ancestors?'

'Why do you say so?'

'Mr. Pitt,' said Betty, sitting down and folding her hands seriously in
her lap, 'I wish you would let me ask you one thing.'

'Ask it certainly,' said he.

'But it is really not my business; only, I am puzzled, and interested,
and do not know what to think. You will not be