do not mean that
they resembled each other in the least, for one was dark and one was
fair; but which was Miss Aurelia Grant, Ralph's _fiancee_, and which was
Miss Evelyn Derrick, a cousin of the family, I could not make out until
later in the evening, when I distinctly saw Ralph kiss the fair one in
the picture-gallery, and I instantly came to the conclusion that she was
the one to whom he was engaged.

I asked Charles if I were not right, as we stood in front of the
hall-fire before the rest of the party had assembled for dinner, and he
told me that I had indeed hit the nail on the head in this instance,
though for his own part he never laid much stress himself on such an
occurrence, having found it prove misleading in the extreme to draw any
conclusion from it. He further informed me that Miss Derrick was the
young lady with dark hair who had poured out tea, and whom he had
favored with some of his conversation afterwards.

I admired Ralph's taste, as did Charles, who had never seen his future
sister-in-law before. Aurelia Grant was a charming little creature, with
a curly head and a dimple, and a pink-and-white complexion, and a
suspicion of an Irish accent when she became excited.

Charles said he admired her complexion most because it was so thoroughly
well done, and the coloring was so true to nature.

I did not quite catch his meaning, but it certainly was a beautiful
complexion; and then she was so bright and lively, and showed such
pretty little teeth when she smiled! She was quite delightful. I did not
wonder at Ralph's being so much in love with her, and Charles agreed
with me.

"There is nothing like a good complexion," he remarked, gravely. "One
may be led away to like a pale girl with a mind for a time, but for
permanent domestic happiness give me a good complexion, and--a dimple,"
he added, as if it were an after-thought. "I feel I could not bestow my
best affections on a woman without a dimple. Yes, indeed! Ralph has
chosen well."

Now I do not agree with Charles there, as I have always considered that
a woman _should_ have a certain amount of mind; just enough, in fact, to
enable her to appreciate a superior one. I said as much to Charles; but
he only laughed, and said it was a subject on which opinion had always
varied.

"How did he meet her?" I inquired.

"On the Rigi, last summer," said Charles. "I am thinking of going there
myself next year. Lovely orphan sat by Lady Mary at _table d'hote