words. They want to do all the fault-finding, and the poor old
gentleman would have a hard time of it were it not for Grace. She
knows how to manage both him and them, and that colored woman you saw
wouldn't leave him if he beat and swore at her every day. She was a
slave in the family of Grace's mother, who was a Southern lady, and
the major gave the poor creature her liberty when he brought his wife
to the North. Grace is sunshine embodied. She makes her old,
irritable, and sometimes gouty father happy in spite of himself. It
was just like her to accept of your offer last evening, for to banish
all dullness from her father's life seems her constant thought. So if
you wish to grow in the young lady's favor don't be so attentive to
her as to neglect the old gentleman."

Graham listened to this good-natured gossip with decided interest,
feeling that it contained valuable suggestions. The response seemed
scarcely relevant. "When is she to be married?" he asked.

"Married!"

"Yes. It is a wonder that such a paragon has escaped thus long."

"You have lived abroad too much," said his aunt satirically. "American
girls are not married out of hand at a certain age. They marry when
they please or not at all if they please. Grace easily escapes
marriage."

"Not from want of suitors, I'm sure."

"You are right there."