that there are a few good times outside of the parties and the
young men. And even if you go back into it when you go home, as
you probably will, Katharine, it won't do any harm for you to have
had a year to stop and think, and talk matters over, before
plunging into the 'scrabble,' as you call it."

"It seemed so queer, when I first came East," said Katharine, as
she took up her work again, "to see you and Molly sit down and
talk for an hour at a time. Mamma hasn't ever done it with us,
only to joke with us, or ask about our lessons once in a while.
But everything that comes up, Molly and Polly Adams say, 'Mamma
says so,' or 'Mamma thinks so.'"

She sewed steadily for a few moments, then she broke off, to ask,
with an air of mock tragedy,--

"Mamma says she wants me to marry at eighteen; but what in the
world should I do, auntie, if nobody should ask me?"

"Not get married, I suppose," returned her aunt composedly.

Katharine's face fell.

"What! be an old maid, like Polly's Aunt Jane!" she exclaimed.

"It isn't necessary that you should be like her, even if you
shouldn't marry." And Mrs. Hapgood laughed at the horror in
Katharine's tone. Then she went on, seriously, "Katharine, may I
talk very plainly with you, just as if you were really my
daughter?"