Miss Tripp's eyes brightened with a speculative gleam. "Oh, then you will live in _Boston_! How _delighted_ I am to hear _that_! Did you know your _fiance_ is related to Mrs. Mortimer Van Duser? and that he has _dined_ there? _You didn't?_ But of course you must have heard of Mrs. Van Duser; I believe your minister's wife is a relative of hers. But Mrs. Van Duser doesn't approve of Mrs. Pettibone, I'm told; her opinions are so odd. But I _am_ so glad for you, my dear; if everything is managed properly you will have an _entree_ to the most exclusive circles." Miss Tripp's eyebrows and shoulders expressed such unfeigned interest and delight in her prospects that Elizabeth beamed and smiled in her turn. She wished confusedly that Miss Tripp would not talk to her about her engagement; it was too sacred, too wonderful a thing to discuss on the street with a mere acquaintance like Miss Tripp. Yet all the while she was rosily conscious of her new ring, which she could feel under her glove, and a childish desire to uncover its astonishing brilliancy before such warmly appreciative eyes presently overcame her desire to escape. "Won't you walk home with me?" she asked; "mother will be so glad to see you." "Oh, _thank_ you! Indeed I was coming to condole with your dear mother and to wish you all sorts of happiness. I've so often spoken of you to my friends in Boston." Elizabeth wondered what Miss Tripp could possibly have said about her to her friends in Boston. But she was assured by Miss Tripp's brilliant smile that it had been something agreeable. When she came into the room after removing her hat and cloak she found her mother deep in conversation with the visitor, who made room for her on the sofa with a smile and a graceful tilt of her plumed head. "We've been talking about you every minute, dear child. You'll see what a _sweet_ wedding you'll have. Everything must be of the very latest; and it isn't a minute too soon to begin on your trousseau. You really ought to have everything hand-embroidered, you know; those flimsy laces and machine-made edges are so common, you won't _think_ of them; and they don't wear a bit well, either." Mrs. North glanced appealingly at her daughter. "Oh," she said, in a bewildered tone, "I guess Elizabeth isn't intending to be married for a long, long time yet; I--we can't spare her." Miss Tripp laughed airily. "_Poor_ mamma," she murmured with a look of deep sympathy, "it _is_ too bad; isn't it? But, really, I'm sure you're to be congratulated on your future son-in-law. He belongs to a _very_ aristocratic family--Mrs. Mortimer Van Duser is a relative, you know; and dear Betty must have everything _suitable_. I'll do some pretty things, dear; I'd love to, and I'll begin this very day, though the doctor has absolutely forbidden me to use my eyes; but I simply can't resist the temptation."