“She is, truly, and the favorite of every circle wherein she moves.” “There is something familiar in your face, Miss Herbert,” said Mrs. Lindley, during a slight pause in the conversation, looking earnestly at the young lady as she spoke. “It seems as if we must have met before.” “And your face made the same impression upon me,” returned Miss Herbert, smiling. “This is a little singular, is it not?” remarked Mrs. Lindley. “We never met before, and yet both recognize something familiar.” “At first thought it seems so. But it is a fact, that we rarely, if ever, see a new face which has not in it something familiar.” “True. But the likeness belongs to a class, and generally has in itself a peculiarity essentially its own, that marks its individuality. Not such a likeness do I see in your face. It seems to me as if we must have met before.” “And I cannot get away from the same impression, in regard to you,” said Miss Herbert. “It is a little singular,” returned Mrs. Lindley, sinking for a few moments into a musing state. “Have you been out much since you arrived in the city?” she inquired, as she came out of this slight abstraction of mind. “I have been around a good deal, for the short time I have been here. Last night I attended the concert at your fine Musical Fund Hall. For musical purposes, it is one of the best rooms I have ever been in.” “Were you pleased with the concert?” inquired Mrs. Lindley—her thoughts reverting, as she spoke, to the unpleasant incident we have mentioned, and a vague, yet deeply mortifying suspicion, stealing through her mind. Her eyes, which were upon the face of Miss Herbert, drooped, and a slight flush warmed her cheeks. “Very much pleased with the concert,” replied the young lady, “but not quite so well pleased with some of the people who were there.” “Ah! What displeased you in the people?” “I should have spoken rather in the singular number,” said Miss Herbert, smiling. “At the close of the concert, and while descending the steps, I was so unfortunate as to tread upon the dress of a lady, who became offended thereat, and spoke to me, I thought, with extreme rudeness. I felt hurt at the moment, but soon got over it.” Mrs. Lindley tried to look calmly at the young lady, while she spoke, and to assume an expression of countenance different from her real feelings. But the effort was not entirely successful. Miss Herbert saw that there was a change, and, for a few moments, wondered at its meaning. Then the truth flashed upon her mind, and she understood why the face of Mrs. Lindley was so familiar. She had met her before, and she remembered where! To both, this was a painful and an embarrassing discovery. But each felt that self-possession, and a seeming unconsciousness of the mortifying fact was of all things necessary. As quickly as Mrs. Lindley was sure that she could command her voice, she said—