He spoke with careless adroitness; Miss Hunsden answered, frankly
enough:

"Five months. You were abroad, I think, at the time."

"Yes. And now you have come for good, I hope--as if Miss Hunsden could
come for anything else."

"It all depends on papa's health," replied Harriet, quietly ignoring
the compliment. "I should like to stay, I confess. I am very, very
fond of England."

"Of course--as you should be of your native place." He was firing
nearer the target.

"England is not my native place," said Harriet, calmly. "I was born at
Gibraltar."

"At Gibraltar! You surprise me. Of course your mother was not a
native of Gibraltar?"

"Of course not. My mother was an American--born and bred and married
in New York."

"I suppose you scarcely remember her?"

"Scarcely," the young lady repeated, dryly; "since I never saw her."

"Indeed! She died then--"