“Behave, can’t you?” said ’Lena, at the same time continuing—“No, I don’t suppose Mabel is dying for you at all. All of us girls like to receive attention from you gentlemen, and she’s not an exception. Besides that, you ought to be polite to her, because she’s your mother’s guest, if for nothing else. I don’t ask you to love her,” said she, “but I do ask you to treat her well. Kind words cost nothing, and they go far toward making others happy.” “So they do,” answered John, upon whom ’Lena’s words were having a good effect. “I’ve nothing under heaven against Mabel Ross, except that mother wants me to marry her; but if you’ll warrant me that the young lady herself has no such intentions, why, I’ll do my very best.” “I’ll warrant you,” returned ’Lena, who really had no idea that Mabel cared aught in particular for her cousin, and satisfied with the result of her interview she started to leave the room. As she reached the door, John Jr. stopped her, saying, “You are sure she don’t care for me?” “Perfectly sure,” was ’Lena’s answer. “The plague, she don’t,” thought John, as the door closed upon ’Lena; and such is human nature, that the young man began to think that if Mabel didn’t care for him, he’d see if he couldn’t make her, for after all, there was something pleasant in being liked, even by Mabel! The next day, as the young ladies were sitting together in the parlor, John Jr. joined them, and after wringing Carrie’s nose, pulling ’Lena’s and Anna’s curls, he suddenly upset Mabel’s work-box, at the same time slyly whispering to his cousin, “Ain’t I coming round?” Abrupt as this proceeding, was, it pleased Mabel, who with the utmost good humor, commenced picking up her things, John Jr. assisting her, and managing once to bump his head against hers! After this, affairs at Maple Grove glided on as smoothly as even Mrs. Livingstone could wish. John and Mabel were apparently on the most amicable terms, he deeming ’Lena’s approbation a sufficient reward for the many little attentions which he paid to Mabel, and she, knowing nothing of all that had passed, drinking in his every word and look, learning to live upon his smile, and conforming herself, as far as possible, to what she thought would best please him. Gradually, as she thought it would do, Mrs. Livingstone unfolded to Mabel her own wishes, saying she should be perfectly happy could she only call her “daughter,” and hinting that such a thing “by wise management could easily be brought about.” With a gush of tears the orphan girl laid her head in Mrs. Livingstone’s lap, mentally blessing her as her benefactress, and thanking the Giver of all good for the light and happiness which she saw dawning upon her pathway. “John is peculiar,” said Mrs. Livingstone, “and if he fancied you liked him very much, it might not please him as well as indifference on your part.”