"If you weren't such an infatuated fool," continued my plain-spoken friend, I would say to you, let her take her own way, and the day after to-morrow we will leave New York." "One week more," said I, with an uneasy feeling about the heart. At seven the next evening I entered what had been my Elysium, but was now, little by little, becoming my Tartarus. Again I found Margaret alone over a romance. "And Arthurine?" enquired I, in a voice that might perhaps have been steadier. "She is gone with mamma and Mr Moreland to hear Miss Fanny Wright." "To hear Miss Fanny Wright! the atheist, the revolutionist! What a mad fancy! Who would ever have dreamed of such a thing!" This Miss Fanny Wright was a famous lecturess, of the Owenite school, who was shunned like a pestilence by the fashionable world of New York. "Mr Moreland," answered Margaret, "said so much about her eloquence that Arthurine's curiosity was roused." "Indeed!" replied I. "Oh! you do not know what a noble girl she is. For her sister she would sacrifice her life. My only hope is in her." I snatched up my hat, and hurried out of the house. The next morning I got up, restless and uneasy; and eleven o'clock had scarcely struck when I reached the Bowsends' house. This time both sisters were at home; and as I entered the drawing-room, Arthurine advanced to meet me with a beautiful smile upon her face. There was nevertheless a something in the expression of her countenance that made me start. I pressed her hand. She looked tenderly at me. "I hope you have been amusing yourself these last two days," said I after a moment's pause. "Novelty has a certain charm," replied Arthurine. "Yet I certainly never expected to become a disciple of Miss Fanny Wright," added she, laughing. "Really! I should have thought the transition from Tom and Jerry rather an easy one." "A little more respect for Tom and Jerry, whom _we_ patronize--that is to say, Mr Moreland and our high mightiness," replied Arthurine, trying, as I fancied, to conceal a certain confusion of manner under a laugh. "I should scarcely have thought my Arthurine would have become a party to such a conspiracy against good taste," replied I gravely. "_My_ Arthurine!" repeated she, laying a strong accent on the pronoun possessive. "Only see what rights and privileges the gentleman is usurping! We live in a free country, I believe?" There was a mixture of jest and earnest in her charming countenance. I looked enquiringly at her. "Do you know," cried she, "I have taken quite a fancy to Moreland? He is so good-natured, such a sterling character, and his roughness wears off when one knows him well." "And moreover," added I, "he has five hundred thousand dollars." "Which are by no means the least of his recommendations. Only think of the balls, Howard! I hope you will come to them. And then Saratoga; next year London and Paris. Oh! it will be delightful." "What, so far gone already?" said I, sarcastically.