beautiful sibyl, that was entrancing to Hemstead as well as De
Forrest--"even now I see papa and mamma and old-fashioned Auntie
Jane, and poor invalid Jennie, all gathered at home in our sacred
little snuggery where father permits no visitors to come."

The look she had assumed became genuine, and her eyes suddenly
moistened as the scene called up became real and present to her.
With all her faults she had a warm heart, and loved her kindred
sincerely.

But this touch of truth and feeling served her mischievous purpose
better than she thought, for it convinced the honest-minded Hemstead
that she was just what she seemed, and his sympathy went out to
her at once as a well-meaning, true-hearted girl.

He was a little taken aback, however, when Lottie, ashamed of her
feeling, said brusquely, "As to gambling with cards, we no more
thought of it than sending to a corner grocery for a bottle of
whiskey, and taking from it a drink all around between the games."

"O Lottie!" laughed her aunt, "what an absurd picture you suggest!
The idea of your stately mother taking a drink from a bottle of
whiskey!"

"It is no more strange to me," persisted Lottie, gravely, "than
Mr. Hemstead's associations. Of course I know that bad and vulgar
people play cards, but they also drive horses and walk the streets,
and do other things which it is perfectly proper for us to do."

"I admit, Miss Marsden, that education and custom make a great