he answering her with studied politeness, but nothing more.

Miss Stevens had, from the first, conceived a great antipathy to
Rose, whom she considered a dangerous rival, and generally avoided,
excepting when Mr. Dinsmore was with her; but she always interrupted
a tete-a-tete between them when it was in her power to do so without
being guilty of very great rudeness. This, and the covert sneers with
which she often addressed Miss Allison had not escaped Mr. Dinsmore's
notice, and it frequently cost him quite an effort to treat Miss
Stevens with the respectful politeness which he considered due to her
sex and to the daughter of his father's old friend.

"Was it not too provoking, papa?" exclaimed Elsie, as she followed him
into his room on their return from their walk.

"What, my dear?"

"Why, papa, I thought we were going to have such a nice time, and she
just spoiled it all."

"She? who, daughter?"

"Why, papa, surely you know I mean Miss Stevens!"

"Then why did you not mention her name, instead of speaking of her as
she? That does not sound respectful in a child of your age, and I wish
my little girl always to be respectful to those older than herself.
I thought I heard you the other day mention some gentleman's name
without the prefix of Mr., and I intended to reprove you for it at the
time. Don't do it again."