hours he saw enough of young Lawson to convince him of his
character.

A slight circumstance happened one evening which had a tenfold
effect upon Marguerite Verne; but the girl kept her own counsel, and
cherished the thought as a happy talisman through all the months and
years that followed ere events brought about the consummation of her
fondest hopes. Mr. Verne was seated in the library. Brilliant rays
of light were reflected from the highly-burnished chandelier.
"Madge, my girl, come read awhile," exclaimed the former, as
he espied his favorite across the hall with a delicate bouquet of
hot-house plants in her hand.

"I will be with you in a minute, papa, dear," was the response, in a
sweet, childlike voice, as the speaker ran up the broad staircase
with elfin grace and gaiety.

"So the flowers were not for me, you naughty girl. Well, well, times
have changed since when, in the eyes of the august peers of our
motherland, it was considered 'an atrocious crime' to be a young
man."

"Oh, papa, you see I do know a little history--enough to accuse that
'young man' of being guilty of sarcasm in the highest degree."

"Well done, my Madge! Here, take the paper--read me the rest of that
speech of young Lawson's. It is a clever defence, and goes to prove
my words--that he is a young man of sound judgment, and every day
gives proof of greater force."