"Very distinctly. Many changes have come to us both since then." "To me very many! I have grown older in heart than in years." Then, evidently fearing that she might otherwise interpret his meaning, he subjoined: "We have had a heavy bereavement in our household, you know. Your changes have all been happy ones. The enthusiastic, restless girl has ripened into the more sedate, yet more blessed wife and mother." Press your sweet mouth to the convulsed lips, Baby Belle! Veil with your silky curls the tell-tale features, whose agitation would bewilder, if not betray! Philip was stroking the head of his boy, and did not see the uneasiness of his companion. "Have you heard of Uncle Nathan's death?" she asked, clearing her throat. He looked surprised at the inquiry. "Yes! Aunt Sarah wrote immediately to my father." "Ah! I had forgotten that they were brothers. My memory is treacherous. Excuse me! I am wanted in the dining-room!" Lewis met her just outside the door, and stopped her to bestow the evening kiss he had not cared to offer in Philip's presence. "Why, you are as rosy as a peony!" he said, jestingly. "Has Benson been paying you compliments, in return for yours to him? I must look after you two, if you carry on at this rate." With a look he had reason subsequently to recall, but which only pleased him at the time, she raised his hand to her lips--a look of humility, gratitude, and appeal, such as one might cast upon a slighted benefactor--and vanished. A merry family party gather around the Hammond's generous table, that afternoon. All the Hunts were there--from the father down to Jeannie, who was fast shooting up into a tall girl, somewhat pert in manner, but lovable despite this, at times, unpleasant foible. "Sister Lucy," she said, after an interval of silence, "Ellen West said, at school, to-day that you were a great belle when you were a young lady; were you?" "You must not ask me, Jeannie!" The old smile of conscious beauty stole into Lucy's cheeks. "Was she, sister?" Jeannie referred the case to Sarah. "Yes, my dear, she was very beautiful," replied the latter, simply. "She isn't now--not so very handsome, I mean--no handsomer than you are, sister!" "Jeannie! you forget yourself!" interposed Mrs. Hunt. "Why, mamma, I did not intend to be rude! Only I thought that belles were always the prettiest ladies that could be found anywhere." "By no means!" corrected Lewis, willing to help his wife's pet out of a scrape. "There are many descriptions of belles, Jeannie: handsome, rich, fast, and intellectual." "And as papa was not rich, I suppose you were either fast or intellectual, sister Lucy!" persisted the child. "I thought her pretty fast when I tried to catch her," said Philip.--"Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Benson, have you ladies decided in the course of to-day's congress what watering-place is to be made the fashion by our clique next month?"