me with Laura,
talking mediaevalism. Louie was evidently taking Jack to task, and very
energetically too. Fragments of their conversation reached my ears from
time to time. She had heard something about Mrs. Finnimore, but what it
was, and whether she believed it or not, could not be perceived from
what she said. Jack fought her off skilfully, and, at last, she made an
attack from another quarter. "Oh, Captain Randolph," said she, "what a
delightful addition we're going to have to our Quebec society!"

"Ah!" said Jack, "what is that?"

"How very innocent! Just as if you are not the one who is most
concerned."

"I?"

"Of course. You. Next to me."

"I don't understand."

"Come, now, Captain Randolph, how very ridiculous to pretend to be so
ignorant!"

"Ignorant?" said Jack; "ignorant is not the word. I am in Egyptian
darkness, I assure you."

"Egyptian darkness--Egyptian nonsense! Will it help you any if I tell
you her name?"

"Her name! Whose name? What 'her'?"

Louie laughed long and merrily.

"Well," said she, at length, "for pure, perfect, utter, childlike
innocence, commend me to Captain Randolph! And now, sir," she resumed,
"will you answer me one question?"

"Certainly--or one hundred thousand."

"Well, what do you think of Miss Phillips?"

"I think she is a very delightful person," said Jack fluently--"the
most delightful I have ever met with, present company excepted."

"That is to be understood, of course; but what do you think of her
coming to live here?"

"Coming to live here!"

"Yes, coming to live here," repeated Louie, playfully imitating the
tone of evident consternation with which Jack spoke.

"What? Miss Phillips?"

"Yes, Miss Phillips."

"Here?"

"Certainly."

"Not here in Quebec?"

"Yes, here in Quebec--but I _must_ say that you have missed your
calling in life. Why do you not go to New York and make your fortune as
an actor? You must take part in our private theatricals the next time
we have any."

"I assure you," said Jack, "I never was so astonished in my life."

"How well you counterfeit!" said Louie; "never mind. Allow me to
congratulate you. We'll overlook the little piece of acting, and regard
rather the delightful fact. Joined once more--ne'er to part--hand to
hand--heart to heart--memories sweet--ne'er to fade--all my own--
fairest maid! And then your delicious remembrances of Sissiboo."

"Sissiboo?" gasped Jack.

"Sissiboo," repeated Louie, with admira