"But fancy Eugene marrying to order!" and Laura laughs lightly. "I
believe it was a plan of Mr. St. Vincent's in the first place. Well,
the silly little thing is not much to look at! Mamma, do you know this
Prof. Freilgrath is a great German _savant_ and traveller? He and Floyd
have been writing a book together about Egypt or Africa or the Nile.
Mr. Latimer's club is to give him an elegant reception. Mrs. Latimer
met him while they were at Berlin three years ago, when he had just
come from some wonderful explorations. Oh, if Madame Lepelletier were
only here, she would make Floyd one of the lions of the day! What an
awful pity he is tied to that child! And it was so mean of him not to
come to Newport, as he promised! The whole thing is inscrutable!"

"It was a hurried, tangled-up mess! I don't pretend to understand it. I
don't believe he cares for her, but the thing is done," the mother
says, desperately.

"I _was_ curious to see her, and when Floyd asked us so cordially
to come I would have put off everything. We are to go back again
to-morrow, and I am delighted to meet the professor, not that I care
much for the Nile or the ruins of buried cities, unless some rare and
beautiful jewelry comes to light," and she laughs. "My bracelets have
been the envy of half Newport. I wonder---- But I suppose Floyd will
save the rest of his 'trumpery' for her! You have not been deposed, _ma
mere_!"

The set expression in Mrs. Grandon's face indicates that deposing her
would be a rather difficult matter.

Laura meanwhile has washed her face and done her hair. She rummages in
a drawer for some fresh laces she remembers to have left behind, and
makes herself quite elegant. As they go down-stairs Mrs. Grandon slips
the key in the piano, and then makes inquiries concerning the dinner.

The "foolish little thing" in her pretty willow rocker has made herself
entertaining to the German professor, who is not long in finding that
she is quite well read in orthodox German literature, except the poets,
and there her teacher has allowed a wide range. She is yet too young
for it to have touched her soul, but her eyes promise a good deal when
the soul shall be really awakened. And he thinks of the story his
friend has told, of her saving his little girl, and pays her a true,
fervent admiration that puzzles Laura extremely. Violet does not get on
so well with Mr. Delancy, for she knows nothing of society life.

But Laura can "shine her do