She colored deeply under the glance which accompanied the threefold compliment, and answered with grateful humility,— “You are very kind to say so; I wish I could believe it.” Then, as if anxious to forget herself, she added rather abruptly,— “I hear you think of giving your Adam a mate,—have you begun yet?” “Yes, my design is finished, all but the face.” “I should think you could image Eve’s beauty, since you have succeeded so well with Adam’s.” “The features perhaps, but not the expression. That is the charm of feminine faces, a charm so subtile that few can catch and keep it. I want a truly womanly face, one that shall be sweet and strong without being either weak or hard. A hopeful, loving, earnest face with a tender touch of motherliness in it, and perhaps the shadow of a grief that has softened but not saddened it.” “It will be hard to find a face like that.” “I don’t expect to find it in perfection; but one sometimes sees faces which suggest all this, and in rare moments give glimpses of a lovely possibility.” “I sincerely hope you will find one then,” said Psyche, thinking of the dinner. “Thank you; _I_ think I have.” Now, in order that every one may be suited, we will stop here, and leave our readers to finish the story as they like. Those who prefer the good old fashion may believe that the hero and heroine fell in love, were married, and lived happily ever afterward. But those who can conceive of a world outside of a wedding-ring may believe that the friends remained faithful friends all their lives, while Paul won fame and fortune, and Psyche grew beautiful with the beauty of a serene and sunny nature, happy in duties which became pleasures, rich in the art which made life lovely to herself and others, and brought rewards in time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS. “A handful of good life is worth a bushel of learning.” “DEAR EMILY,—I have a brilliant idea, and at once hasten to share it with you. Three weeks ago I came up here to the wilds of Vermont to visit my old aunt, also to get a little quiet and distance in which to survey certain new prospects which have opened before me, and to decide whether I will marry a millionnaire and become a queen of society, or remain ‘the charming Miss Vaughan’ and wait till the conquering hero comes. “Aunt Plumy begs me to stay over Christmas, and I have consented, as I always dread the formal dinner with which my guardian celebrates the day.