side of the scale, and all the world on the other, with the positive conviction that she would tip the scale. She was very affectionate and docile to Joshua; she looked up to him with a kind of adoration, and this tacit acknowledgment of his superiority was pleasing to his vanity. He was her hero, and she worshipped him, and showed that she did so; and he, too, dangerously regarding her as a child, received her worship, and was gratified by it. And so she drifted. Now as he entered the room, Minnie sprang towards him with a joyous exclamation, and taking his hand, held it tightly clasped in hers as she led him to a seat. The room was not so bare of furniture as it was when he first saw it. He looked round for Basil Kindred. "Father is not at home, Joshua," said Minnie. "He will be in soon, I dare say." She pushed him softly into a chair, and sat on the ground at his feet. "I am so glad you have come!" "But I don't think I have time to stay." "You mustn't go; you mustn't go," said Minnie, drawing his arm round her neck. "I shall be so lonely if you do." "But you were alone before I came in, Minnie." "Yes," returned Minnie; "but I did not feel lonely then. I shall now, if you go away." "Then I will stop for a little while," said Joshua, humoring her. "Always good!" said Minnie gratefully, resting her lips upon her hand, "always good!" "Why did you not feel lonely before I came, Minnie?" "I was thinking." "Of what?" "Of long, long ago, when father was different to what he is now." "It could not have been so long, long ago, little Minnie,"--here came a little caressing action from the child,--"you are only--how old?" "Fourteen." "And fourteen years ago is not so long, long ago, little Minnie." Minnie repeated her caressing action. "To you it isn't perhaps, but it is to me. It seems almost," she said, placing Joshua's hand upon her eyes, and closing them, "as if I had nothing to do with it. Yet I must have had; for mother was mixed up with what I was thinking. "But I shall think of something else now that you are here," she said presently. "I am going to listen." With the hand that was free she took something from her pocket, and placing it to her ear, bent her head closer to the ground. She was so long in that attitude of watchful silence, that Joshua cried "Minnie" to arouse her. "Hush!" she said; "you must not interrupt me. I am listening. I can almost hear it speak." "Hear what speak?" asked Joshua, wondering. Minnie directed his fingers to her ear, and he felt something smooth and cold. "It is a shell," she said softly, "and I am listening to the sea." "Ah," said Joshua in a voice as soft as hers, "that is because I am going to be a sailor." "For that reason. Yes. Call me little Minnie." "Little Minnie!" said Joshua tenderly; for Minnie's voice and manner were very winsome, and he could not help thinking how quaintly pretty her fancy was.