ALONE—amid books, mortars, vials, and the more startling appendages of a doctor's office—sat the young student, whose suit had been rejected. The volumes over which he had been poring were closed; the anatomical preparations laid aside; the theory and practice of medicine alike forgotten. He sat with his head bowed down; his whole attitude one of deep dejection. "It is folly to give way thus," he said, arousing himself. "Her heart and her hand are already pledged to another, and can, therefore, never be mine. How little did I dream of this! Sweet girl! How can I give up the dear hope of one day calling her my own! But it must be done. Who can be my fortunate rival?" As this last sentence was uttered almost aloud, the door of the office opened, and his friend Lawrence Dunbar came in. "What has come over you, Lloyd?" he said, as soon as he had looked into Hudson's face. "One would think you hadn't a friend in the world." "I am not so badly off as that comes to, I hope; though I cannot say that I feel very bright. But you look as if you were in the best possible humor with yourself and everybody else." "And so I am; and I have cause to be, Lloyd! I have something to tell you, as a friend, which I think will gratify you exceedingly." "Ah! What is it?" "I have wooed and won the sweetest maiden in the city." "You have?" "Yes, young as I am—too young, as nine out of ten of our greybeards would say—I have settled that most important matter, and infinitely to my satisfaction. Now, who do you think the maiden is? You know her. Guess! You will approve my choice, I'll wager a sixpence." "I cannot guess," replied Hudson, a sudden suspicion of the truth flashing over his mind, and causing his pulses to throb more quickly. "It is Mary Lee!" The utmost effort of Hudson was required to keep from betraying undue disturbance at this communication. "Now don't you approve of my choice?" asked the friend, gaily. "Have I not shown taste?" "I think you have." "You think I have! Why don't you go into heroics about it, and say what you really believe. If you had come with a similar communication, I would have wrung your hand half off. She's a charming girl, isn't she?" "Yes; charming." "Don't talk like a parrot! Can't you invent some expression of admiration?" "She needs no praise from me, Lawrence," replied Hudson, speaking with gravity. "I have always looked upon her as the pride of her sex." "Well, but gravely said. You are as phlegmatic as a Greenlander. I think she will grace any circle into which she may be thrown: don't you?" "I certainly do."