ount. It won't do, however; they will have to let us go."

"It will be sufficient to send our regrets," said Mr. Minturn.

"We'd better not even do that," replied his wife. "That will indicate a
wish to retain the acquaintance, and we have no such desire. Better
sever the relation at once and be done with the matter. It is
unpleasant at least, and there is no use in prolonging disagreeable
sensations."

"Be it so, then," remarked Mr. Minturn, rising; and so the thing was
decided.

Mrs. Minturn had lapsed into a small mistake touching the reason that
induced Mr. and Mrs. Allender to give an entertainment just at that
time. It was not in honour of their return from Washington, and
designed to unite the families in a firmer union; no, a thought like
this had not entered the mind of the Allenders. The honour was designed
for another--even for the Hon. Mr. Erskine, who was the son of one of
Mr. Allender's oldest and most valued friends, whom he had not seen for
many years, yet with whom he had enjoyed an uninterrupted
correspondence. On his return home, Mr. Erskine remained a few days in
the city, as much to see Mr. Allender as for any thing else, his father
having particularly desired him to do so. He had never met Mr. Allender
before, but was charmed with his gentlemanly character and fine
intelligence at the first interview, and still more pleased with him at
each subsequent meeting. With Mrs. Allender he was also pleased; but,
most of all, with Clara. About the latter there was a charm that won
his admiration. She was beautiful; but how different her beauty from
that of the brilliant belles who had glittered in the gay circles of
fashion he had just left! It was less the beauty of features than that
which comes through them, as a transparent medium, from the pure and
lovely spirit within. Erskine had been more than pleased with Miss
Minturn; but he thought of her as one in a lower sphere while in the
presence of Clara, who, like a half-hidden violet, seemed all
unconscious of beauty or fragrance.

Yes, it was for Mr. Erskine that the party was given, and in order to
introduce him to a highly refined and intellectual circle, of which Mr.
Allender and his wife notwithstanding external reverses, were still the
centre. Not from any particular pleasure that was expected to be
derived from the company of the Minturns, were they invited; for, in
going up, they had changed so for the worse, that their society had
become ir