"Oh;" pausing to think for a moment. "It's Miss Pemberton, and--is it Belinda?" "Oh, you haven't changed a bit, except to grow tall;" and Belinda almost hugged her. "But Mary is Mrs. Hassel, and has the darlingest little boy you ever saw. Oh, do you remember our party out on the lawn, and our picnic? I'm so glad you have come again. I'm the only girl home now;" and then Belinda blushed deeply. "And Mr. de Ronville would have us share his tea. I've heard it's a kind of English fashion, which he ought not countenance, since he is French, I tell him," said Mrs. Hassel jestingly. "But it is delightful. I think I'll start it. A cup of tea seems to loosen one's tongue." "Do women really need the lubrication?" asked M. de Ronville with a smile. "Yes, they do. Think of three or four different women hardly knowing what to say to each other, and after a few sips of tea they are as chatty as you please. But I must say I was so delighted with his charming news that I would have waited until dark for the chance of seeing you." "Oh, thank you;" and Daffodil blushed prettily. "And we know a friend of yours, at least Jack does, a young doctor, who is going to be great some day, and who is from Pittsburg, Dr. Langdale." "Oh, yes, I knew he was studying here." "And he has made one or two remarkable discoveries about something or other. Dr. Rush considers him one of the coming men." "I am very glad to hear that. Oh, we all seemed children together. And his older brother is a lieutenant at Fort Pitt." "Can't he get a furlough? I'd like to see him," said Belinda gayly. "He's tired of dull Fort Pitt, and was talking of getting exchanged. That isn't quite right, I believe; it sounds as if he was a prisoner." "We must go," insisted Mrs. Hassel. "We will hardly have time for another call. M. de Ronville has been so fascinating." "Oh, did I hold out a fascination?" mischievously. "It was both," admitted Belinda. "And now we want to see ever so much of you. Mary, give us a regular tea party; she only lives round in Arch Street. And you will want to see the baby." "Of course I will," said the young girl. Then they made their adieus. Susan took away the tea-things. "Was the shopping nice?" enquired her guardian. "Oh, there are so many lovely things! I didn't mean to buy anything, you know, but we looked at such an elegant pelisse. Only everything costs so much!" "Oh, economical little girl!" "And the shopwoman would try on such a splendid white beaver that had just come in with a beautiful long plume and a white satin bow on top. Why, I felt as if I had just arrived from Paris!" M. de Ronville leaned back and laughed. She looked so pretty and spirited, standing here. He could imagine her in the white beaver and handsome pelisse. "How about the French?" he asked. "Have you forgotten it all?" "Oh, no. Grandmere and I talk sometimes." "We must have a little reading. Why, _we_ could talk as well. I sometimes get rusty."