"Why, my dear, I'd be only too glad to promise you a husband if the cards foretelled it," said Dame Ness, pityingly. "Yours is the best fortune of all, though, if you could but bring your mind to see it. Husbands is more plague nor profit. I'm sure I had cause to say so by the one that fell to my share, as that there dear good lady knows," pointing to Miss Deveen. In high dudgeon, Helen pushed the cards together. Mrs. Ness, getting some kind words from the rest of us, curtsied as she went off to the cottage to see about the kettles for our tea. "You are a nice young lady!" exclaimed Bill. "Showing your temper because the cards don't give you a sweetheart!" Helen threw her fan at him. "Mind your own business," returned she. And he went away laughing. "And, my dear, I say the same as William," added Lady Whitney. "One really might think that you were--were _anxious_ to be married." "All cock-a-hoop for it," struck in Cattledon: "as the housemaids are." "And no such great crime, either," returned Helen, defiantly. "Fancy that absurd old thing telling me I never shall be!" "Helen, my dear, I think the chances are that you will not be married," quietly spoke Miss Deveen. "Oh, _do_ you!" "Don't be cross, Helen," said her mother. "Our destinies are not in our own hands." Helen bit her lip, laughed, and recovered her temper. She was like her father; apt to flash out a hot word, but never angry long. "Now--please, Miss Deveen, _why_ do you think I shall not be?" she asked playfully. "Because, my dear, you have had three chances, so to say, of marriage, and each time it has been frustrated. In two of the instances by--if we may dare to say it--the interposition of Heaven. The young men died beforehand in an unexpected and unforeseen manner: Charles Leafchild and Mr. Temple----" "I was never engaged to Mr. Temple," interrupted Helen. "No; but, by all I hear, you shortly would have been." Helen gave no answer. She knew perfectly well that she had expected an offer from Slingsby Temple; that his death, as she believed, alone prevented its being made. She would have said Yes to it, too. Miss Deveen went on. "We will not give more than an allusion to Captain Foliott; he does not deserve it; but your marriage with him came nearest of all. It may be said, Helen, without exaggeration, that you have been on the point of marriage twice, and very nearly so a third time. Now, what does this prove?" "That luck was against me," said Helen, lightly. "Ay, child: luck, as we call it in this world. I would rather say, Destiny. _God knows best._ Do you wonder that I have never married?" continued Miss Deveen in a less serious tone. "I never thought about it," answered Helen.