breeding as possible," said Julia.

"Well," returned Fanny, "I reckon this Dr. Lacing or Dr. Lacework—what’s
his name?—will ever be anything to us, for I am sure he’d never think of
me, and you are engaged to a man who is much better than any of your New
Orleans pill bags."

Little did Fanny dream how closely the "New Orleans pill bags" were to be
connected with the rest of her life. Julia said nothing but probably
thought more.

When the young ladies entered the breakfast room next morning they noticed
seated opposite them a tall, dark, handsome young man, whom Mrs.
Carrington introduced to them as Dr. Lacey. There was something remarkably
pleasing in his manner, and before breakfast was over he had completely
won Fanny’s good opinion by kindly breaking her egg for her, and when she
had the misfortune to drop the fork, he drew the attention of the company
from her by relating an anecdote on himself, which was that he was once
invited to a dinner party at the Hon. Henry Clay’s, and as he was trying
to be very graceful and polite, he unfortunately upset his plate, the
contents of which, together with his knife and fork, were deposited in his
lap. This story raised such a laugh that all forgot Fanny, who gave Dr.
Lacey such a look of gratitude that after breakfast he asked Mrs. Crane
who the pale, blue-eyed girl was, and received about the same information
that Mrs. Carrington had received concerning her.

That day Mr. Wilmot’s eyes were not as handsome nor his teeth as white as
usual in the estimation of Julia, who often found herself wondering why he
did not wear whiskers. That evening he called at Mrs. Crane’s and for the
first time in her life Julia was not much pleased to see him. He, however,