“Then your changed personal relations with Mr. McHulish is the reason why you hear so little of his progress or his expectations?” “Yes; but he don't know that they are changed, for we haven't seen him since we've been here, although they say he's here, and hiding somewhere about.” “Why should he be hiding?” The young girl lifted her pretty brows. “Maybe he thinks it's mysterious. Didn't I tell you he was a crank?” Yet she laughed so naively, and with such sublime unconsciousness of any reflection on herself, that the consul was obliged to smile too. “You certainly do not seem to be breaking your heart as well as your engagement,” he said. “Not much--but here comes maw. Look here,” she said, turning suddenly and coaxingly upon him, “if she asks you to come along with us up north, you'll come, won't you? Do! It will be such fun!” “Up north?” repeated the consul interrogatively. “Yes; to see the property. Here's maw.” A more languid but equally well-appointed woman had entered the room. When the ceremony of introduction was over, she turned to her daughter and said, “Run away, dear, while I talk business with--er--this gentleman,” and, as the girl withdrew laughingly, she half stifled a reminiscent yawn, and raised her heavy lids to the consul. “You've had a talk with my Elsie?” The consul confessed to having had that pleasure. “She speaks her mind,” said Mrs. Kirkby wearily, “but she means well, and for all her flightiness her head's level. And since her father died she runs me,” she continued with a slight laugh. After a pause, she added abstractedly, “I suppose she told you of her engagement to young McHulish?” “Yes; but she said she had broken it.” Mrs. Kirkby lifted her eyebrows with an expression of relief. “It was a piece of girl and boy foolishness, anyway,” she said. “Elsie and he were children together at MacCorkleville,--second cousins, in fact,--and I reckon he got her fancy excited over his nobility, and his being the chief of the McHulishes. Of course Custer will manage to get something for the shareholders out of it,--I never knew him to fail in a money speculation yet,--but I think that's about all. I had an idea of going up with Elsie to take a look at the property, and I thought of asking you to join us. Did Elsie tell you? I know she'd like it--and so would I.”