"Pardon me, I consider it a very great defect, and slight as this blemish appears in Miss Lovel, her money could never blind me to the fact if I knew her ever so well." "I do not mean to imply," answered Allan, "that being an heiress renders the blemish imperceptible--no, it is her truly amiable disposition, her goodness, and engaging manners which makes her so beautiful to her friends." "O, a pattern woman!" cried the other, "worse yet!" "What do you mean by a pattern woman?" "Why, one of those shockingly amiable, running round into dark alleys, charity-dispensing beings--patting white-headed beggar boys, and kissing dirt-begrimed babies--who speak in soft, lisping tones of duty and benevolence--read the Bible to sick paupers, go to sewing meetings and work on flannel--and--" "There, that will do, Fifield," interrupted Allan, "making some allowance, you have drawn Miss Lovel's character to the life. Shall I introduce you?" "O certainly, a cool hundred thousand outweighs all my objections against pattern women--I could swallow a sermon every morning with the best grace in the world, and even were she as ugly as Hecate, I could worship at her feet, and wear the yoke for the sake of the golden trappings!" The young men now passed on, leaving poor Ursula wounded to the quick by the heartless remarks of the fortune-hunter. She did not join the gay assembly again, but requesting a servant to call her carriage, immediately returned home. Now can you wonder at the cloud on her brow? But see, even while we are looking at her, it is clearing away--like a sunbeam, out peeps a smile from each corner of her rosy mouth, and hark! you may almost hear her merry laugh as clapping her bands she exclaims-- "Yes, yes, I'll do it! What a capital idea--excellent, excellent!" Then rising and bounding lightly to the inner door she threw it wide, saying-- "Here, Hetty, I have something to tell you--come quick." And at the summons a pretty young girl, seemingly about her own age, made her appearance from the chamber. "There, Hetty, I am better now," said Ursula, "how silly I am to let the remarks of such a person have power to move me! But I have such a grand project to tell you--come, while you are platting my hair, and, in the words of that same amiable youth, taking off all these _trappings_, I will let you into my secret." Hetty took the comb and thridded it through the long tresses of her young lady, which, released from the silver arrow so gracefully looping them on the top of her head, now fell around her nearly to the floor. "Hetty," exclaimed Ursula, suddenly throwing back her head and looking archly at the girl, "Hetty, do you want to see your mother?" "O, Miss Ursula," cried Hetty, the tears springing to her eyes, "indeed, indeed I do!" "Very well, I promise you then that in less than a week you shall be in her arms." "O, my dear Miss Ursula, do you really mean so?" said Hetty, bending over and kissing the glowing cheek of her mistress.