finder, and thanked the others for their kindly interest in the fate
of her "bauble," she held out her arm to her brother, that he might
clasp it again in its place. Affable always, winning whomsoever she
chose to admiration of her personal and mental endowments, she never
departed from matronly decorum. The company agreed silently, or in
guarded asides, that she was charming. No tongue--even the most
reckless or venomous--ever lisped the dread word, levity, in
connection with her name.

"Take care, my dear brother! you will pinch me!" those near heard
her say, and she twisted the golden circlet that the clasp might be
uppermost.

Rosa's alert ear caught the hurried murmur which succeeded, and was
muffled, so to speak, by her affectionate smile of gratitude.

"What were you about to say? Will you never learn prudence?"

"The dove has talons, then?" mused the eavesdropper, "But what was
he in danger of revealing?"

If the interdicted revelation had connection, close or remote, with
the famous quartette club, he kept well away from it after this
reminder, beginning, when he resumed his seat, to discourse upon the
comparative excellence of wood and coal fires, of open chimney-
places and stoves.

Mrs. Aylett smiled an engaging and regretful "au revoir" to the
circle, and passed on to look after the comfort and pleasure of her
elder visitors, and Rosa soon discovered that her awakened curiosity