Miss Fairbairn received her paper, thanked her, and went on then to read to the girls an elaborate account of a wonderful wedding which had lately been celebrated in Washington. The bride's dress was detailed, her trousseau described, and the subsequent movements of the bridal party chronicled. All was listened to with eager attention. 'What do you think of it, Miss Dyckman?' the lady asked after she had finished reading. 'I think she was a happy girl, Miss Fairbairn.' 'Humph! What do you say, Miss Delavan?' 'Uncommonly happy, I should say, ma'am.' 'Is that your opinion, Miss Essing?' 'Certainly, ma'am. There could be but one opinion, I should think.' 'What could make a girl happy, if all that would not?' asked another. 'Humph! Miss Gainsborough, you are the next; what are your views on the subject?' Esther's mouth opened, and closed. The answer that came first to her lips was sent back. She had a fine feeling that it was not fit for the company, a feeling that is expressed in the admonition not to cast pearls before swine, though that admonition did not occur to her at the time. She had been about to appeal to the Bible; but her answer as it was given referred only to herself. 'I believe I should not call "happiness" anything that would not last,' she said. There was a moment's silence. What Miss Fairbairn thought was not to be read from her face; in other faces Esther read distaste or disapprobation. 'Why, Miss Fairbairn, nothing lasts, if you come to that,' cried a young lady from near the other end of the table. 'Some things more than others,' the mistress of the house opined. 'Not what you call "happiness," ma'am.' 'That's a very sober view of things to take at your age, Miss Disbrow.' 'Yes, ma'am,' said the young lady, tittering. 'It is true.' 'Do you think it is true, Miss Jennings?' There was a little hesitation. Miss Jennings said she did not know. Miss Lawton was appealed to. 'Is there no happiness that is lasting, Miss Lawton?' 'Well, Miss Fairbairn, what we call happiness. One can't be married but once,' the young lady hazarded. That called forth a storm of laughter. Laughter well modulated and kept within bounds, be it understood; no other was tolerated in Miss Fairbairn's presence. 'I have _heard_ of people who had that happiness two or three times,' the lady said demurely. 'Is there, then, no happiness short of being married?' 'Oh, Miss Fairbairn! you know I do not mean that, but all the things you read to us of: the diamonds, and the beautiful dresses, and the lace, and the presents; and then the travelling, and doing whatever she liked.' 'Very few people do whatever they like,' murmured Miss Fairbairn. 'I mean all that. And that does not last--only for a while. The diamonds last, of course'-- 'But the pleasure of wearing them might not. True. Quite right, Miss Lawton. But I come back to my question. Is there _no_ happiness on earth that lasts?' There was silence.