oung married persons a pride in their new happiness, an ostentation of
superiority in their twofold existence, which is apt to produce this
effect upon the spectators. Minnie and her husband stood between the
two ladies, neither of whom possessed husbands, as the possessors of
conscious greatness stand between those who have fallen and those who
have never attained. And Chatty, who had no confidence to give, whose
little story was all locked in her own bosom, had been fretted by her
sister's questions, and by Mr. Eustace Thynne's repeated references to
the fact that she "looked pale."

"No, my dear. We were talking of you, that was all. Minnie is anxious
that you should see--a little more of the world."

"Mamma, be correct at least. I said that it would be a duty for myself
if I had any opportunity, and for Frances--"

"Do you mean Lady Markland?"

"Well, she is Frances, I hope, to her husband's sisters. I said it was
Frances' duty, now that she is going into society, to take you about and
introduce you to people. A little while ago," said Minnie with dignity,
"mamma was all for gadding about; and now she finds fault when I say
the simplest things, all because I said that Eustace--of course Eustace
takes an interest in Chatty: next to his own sisters of course he
naturally takes an interest in you."

Chatty placed her tall vase in the corner which she had chosen for it,
in silence. She expressed no thanks for the interest Eustace took in
her. Neither did Mrs. Warrender say anything further. The chill of this
ingratitude had upon Minnie a contrary effect to that which might have
been anticipated. She grew very hot and red.

"I don't know what you all mean," she cried; "it is what we have never
met with yet, all the places we have been. Everybody has been grateful
to Eustace for his good advice. They have all liked to know what he
thought. 'Try and find out what Eustace thinks' is what has been
said--and now my own mother and sister----" Here words failed and she
wiped away a few angry tears.

At this Chatty's tender heart was touched. She went to her sister and
gave her a gentle kiss. "Dear Minnie, I am sure you are very kind, and
if there was anything to take an interest about----But mamma and I have
just settled down. We want nothing, we are quite happy." Chatty looked
across the room at her mother, which was natural enough, but then Mrs.
Warrender observed that the girl's eyes went farther, that they went
beyo