id, slightly making way, so that he obtained admittance. Was
she not a hypocrite? Did she not know that Mrs. Ray's absence would
be esteemed by him as a great gain, and not a loss? Why did she
thus falsely talk of his waiting a long time? Dogs fight with their
teeth, and horses with their heels; swans with their wings, and cats
with their claws;--so also do women use such weapons as nature has
provided for them.

"I came specially to see you," said he; "not but what I should be
very glad to see your mother, too, if she comes back before I am
gone. But I don't suppose she will, for you won't let me stay so long
as that."

"Well, now you mention it, I don't think I shall, for I have got ever
so many things to do;--the dinner to get ready, and the house to look
after." This she did by way of making him acquainted with her mode
of life,--according to the plan which she had arranged for her own
guidance.

He had come into the room, had put down his hat, and had got himself
up to the window, so that his back was turned to her. "Rachel," he
said, turning round quickly, and speaking almost suddenly. Now he had
called her Rachel again, but she could find at the moment no better
way of answering him than by the same plaintive objection which she
had made before. "You shouldn't call me by my name in that way, Mr.
Rowan; you know you shouldn't."

"Did your mother tell you what I said to her yesterday?" he asked.

"What you said yesterday?"

"Yes, when you were away across the green."

"What you said to mamma?"

"Yes; I know she told you. I see it in your face. And I am glad she
did so. May I not call you Rachel now?"

As they were placed the table was still between them, so that he was
debarred from making any outward sign of his presence as a lover.
He could not take her hand and press it. She stood perfectly silent,
looking down upon the table on which she leaned, and gave no answer
to his question. "May I not call you Rachel now?" he said, repeating
the question.

I hope it will be understood that Rachel was quite a novice at this
piece of work which she now had in hand. It must be the case that
very many girls are not novices. A young lady who has rejected the
first half-dozen suitors who have asked for her love, must probably
feel herself mistress of the occasion when she rejects the seventh,
and will not be quite astray when she accepts the eighth. There
are, moreover, young ladies who, though they may have reje