"I wish I dare follow her, and find out who she is," said Randall to himself; "but she might misinterpret my motive and class me with that elderly reprobate with whom I was compelled to interfere. What a charming girl she is! I never saw a sweeter expression, or a more beautiful complexion." He was in a day-dream, from which he was presently roused. "What are you staring at, Randall?" asked a young man of about his own age, slapping him on the shoulder. "You seem star-gazing." "So I am." "Star-gazing at midday?" "It is a human star, Tudor. In short, it is a beautiful girl, whom I have just helped into a car." "Who is she?" "I don't know, I'm sure." "An unknown divinity, eh? Tell me about it, for there is evidently a story under all this." "A very short one. I found an elderly scamp annoying her, and knocked his hat over his eyes." "And, after having gallantly rescued her, you helped her into a car?" "Exactly." "And that is the whole of it?" "I am afraid so." "You don't mean to say you are struck at last, Randall--you who have so long been the despair of manoeuvering mammas? Come, that would be news, indeed!" "I am not at all sure but I am. Tudor, I will say one thing, that I never saw a sweeter face in all my wanderings." "That's saying a good deal, for you have been all over the world. And you don't know the young lady's name?" "Haven't the slightest clew to it." "Is she rich or poor, a stylish city lady or a rustic beauty?" "I fancy she is not rich," said Randall, who, for some reason, did not care to mention that she had been a vest-maker. To him it mattered little, but his friend Tudor might be more fastidious, and he was not willing to give him any chance to look down upon Rose. "Couldn't you manage to ask her name?" Randall shook his head. "I tried to think of a pretext, but could not," he answered. "You may meet her again." "I hope to do so." "And if you do?" Randall smiled. "Considering that it is not over ten minutes since I first set eyes upon her, it is, perhaps, a little premature to consider that question. I shall certainly try to meet her again." The two young men sauntered up-town, and the conversation fell upon other themes, but Clinton Randall seemed unusually thoughtful. Do what he might, he could not help recurring again and again to the fair face which he had seen for the first time that morning. When Rose was at home again the matter seemed no longer serious to her. Whenever she thought of Mr. Parkinson and his suit she felt inclined to laugh. "Addie," she said, "I have had a proposal this morning." "A proposal!" repeated her sister, in surprise. "Yes, an offer of marriage." "You are not in earnest?" "Indeed I am! I am not sure but I shall give you a brother-in-law." "I wasn't aware that you knew any eligible young man."