ate flight; but she divined my
intention, and, seizing upon me, held me prisoner, and made good her
threat until I succumbed, first freeing my mind of my opinion as to the
conduct of my captor.

"Never mind. We will leave the results of that case to the future," she
said; "the present question has only to do with yourself, and the
unburdening of your secrets. Your inward communings are of such rare
occurrence, that when you do indulge in them, your friends are entitled
to benefit by them.--Is it not so, Milly?"

"Reap what benefit you may, then," I answered. "I was thinking how I
was going to waste."

"H'm'm," said Bessie, releasing her grasp upon my shoulders, and gazing
with an air of deep meditation out of the window near which we sat.
"Fred Winston would doubtless feel complimented by that sage
conclusion; but if you feel so decidedly that you are throwing yourself
away, it is not yet too late for you to draw back, and----"

"Your remarks are too frivolous to bear the consideration of a
well-balanced mind, Elizabeth," I interrupted, "and therefore I decline
to notice them further than to say that you are entirely wide of the
mark. Perhaps I did not express myself in language as choice as I might
have used; but what I meant to say was--to quote the copy-books--that
'opportunities imply obligations,' and that, while my opportunities are
many, the obligations arising therefrom have _not_ been fulfilled."

I had spoken jokingly, almost mockingly, nevertheless I really meant
what I said; but any thing like a sober reflection or solemn view of
life's duties was so new from me, that for a moment my sister and
friend were struck dumb with astonishment.

Then Bessie gave vent to a smothered groan.

"Listen to the words of wisdom!" she ejaculated. "The depth of her! And
whence and since when, may I inquire, arises thus suddenly so solemn a
view of your responsibilities? They are not wont to weigh upon your
mind."

"That is just it," I said. "I am in earnest, not in joke, whatever you
may think. It has, rather suddenly I allow, dawned upon me, that I am a
perfectly useless member of society; or rather, the conviction has been
forced upon me by the words of Allie, whom I overheard informing Daisy
that I was very nice and lovely, but the _uselessest_ person in the
house. Loyal Daisy was indignant, and questioned the justice of the
remark; but it opened up a field of reflection to me, and I am obliged
to admit its truth