They had a delightful quadrille. Then Miss Butler sang a fascinating song--"The Mocking-Bird." Two of the gentlemen sang several of the popular airs of the day, and the party broke up. The little girl had gone to bed some time before, though she declared she wasn't a bit tired, and her eyes shone like stars. The very next day it snowed, so the ladies could have no day at all. There was sleigh-riding and merry-making of all sorts. One day Dr. Hoffman came and took Margaret and her little sister out in a dainty cutter. Then he used to drop in St. Thomas' Church and walk home with her evenings. Father Underhill felt quite guilty in not forewarning his wife of the conspiracy, but one evening she mistrusted. "Margaret is altogether too young to keep company," she declared in an authoritative way. "Margaret is nineteen," said her father. "And you were only twenty when I married you." "That's too young." "Seems to me we were far from miserable. As I remember it was a very happy year." "Don't be silly, 'Milyer. And you're so soft about the children. You haven't a bit of sense about them." In her heart she knew she would not give up one year of her married life for anything the world could offer. "Margaret knows no more about housekeeping than a cat," she continued. "Well, there's time for her to learn. And perhaps she will not really like the young man." "She likes him already. 'Milyer, you're blind as a bat." "Well, if they like each other--it's the way of the world. It's been going on since Adam." "It's simply ridiculous to have Margaret perking herself up for beaux." "I guess you'll have to let the matter go Hoffman is well connected and a nice young fellow." Yes, she had to let the matter go on. She was unnecessarily sharp with Margaret and pretended not to see; she was extremely ceremonious with the young man at first. She didn't mean to have him coming to tea on Sunday evenings, a fashion that still lingered. But Dolly was very good to the young lovers, and they had so many mutual friends. Then Margaret was quite shy, she hardly knew what to make of the attentions that were so reverent and sweet. She couldn't have discussed them with a single human being. Mr. and Mrs. Underhill had called on their new cousins in Hammersley Street. And on Washington's Birthday he took the little girl and Ben over. The street was still considered in the quality part of the town. The row was quite imposing, the stoops being high, the houses three stories and a half, with short windows just below the roof. The railing of the stoop was very ornate, the work around the front door and the fanlight at the top being of the old-fashioned decorative sort. They were ushered into the parlor by a young colored lad.