"I am glad you are able to be with us again. You seem feeble, and we were uneasy lest fatigue might have made you sick." Miss Arnold bowed distantly, and held herself aloof, during the dialogue that ensued. Ida gathered courage as she witnessed her uninterested attitude, which could hardly have been feigned. She had not recognised her; or as she reflected, in her humility, was more probable, had never heard of her. The thought was unflattering, but there was relief in it. Miss Murray was affable and unaffected; her features only redeemed from plainness by their agreeable expression. They talked of the distinctive traits of town and country life. She "had never resided in the city," Miss Murray said, "but had attended Mr. Purcell's school one session." Ida inquired "when?" and heard that they were there together, but in different classes. "I do not remember seeing you," said she. "But _I_ knew your face, yesterday afternoon;" was Miss Murray's reply. "Carry Carleton was your desk-mate, and Anna Talbot sat before you." They were at no loss for topics now; and "Alice" and "Ida" superseded the formal "Miss." "I read of Carry's marriage in the papers, but the name of her _caro sposo_ has slipped my memory;" said Miss Murray. "Dr. Dana,--he is an excellent young man; handsome, amiable, and has a high reputation as an intelligent man, and skilful physician." "Dana! was there a gentleman of that name here last night?" asked Alice. "Yes--his brother." "He was introduced to me;"--and she laughed. "He is an original. I was highly entertained by his humorous sayings." She was interested in Ida's graphic limning of his character. "He is an intimate friend of yours, then?" "One of the best I have;--the kindest of brothers." "I knew he was as good as funny, from his face. You saw him, Lelia?" "Whom?" asked she, without moving. "Mr. Dana, the humorous gentleman, I talked to so long, by the piano." "I saw him, but heard no humor. I thought him very stupid." Miss Murray reddened. "Why, Lelia! but you are not a fair judge. If he had talked to you, you would not say so." "He 'bored' me for what seemed an eternity, but which, Mr. Copeland, who released me, said was only ten minutes," said she, carelessly. Miss Murray was content she should be silent, after this mal-apropos observation. Ida said "one must be well acquainted with him to appreciate him." Miss Arnold measured her from head to foot, and saying coldly, "I rarely err in a first opinion;" turned her blue eyes to the window again. The others were forgetting her in the deepening stream of chat, when she came to the fire-place. "I am chilly!" she said, and throwing one of the sofa-pillows at Alice's feet, seated herself, and leaned her elbow upon her friend's lap. She was bewitchingly lovely--Ida owned; and so may have thought Richard Copeland, who _happened_ to enter, just as she was settled.