'Look strange to do what you have done so often, my darling! Now, Arabella, I won't take 'no' from you.' 'I consent,' said Miss Thorne, languidly. 'He won't be rude to me, will he?' 'Rude! why, Arabella, what do you take him for?' The ladies separated in great good humor. Miss Thorne, with a view to be revenged on Miss Innis, was determined to secure our hero on any terms. She was at Mrs. Bennett's at the appointed hour. On this occasion her toilette was elaborately simple. She always exhibited, not only great taste, but great propriety, in dress. On this occasion one might readily suppose that, running in for a brief call, she had been induced to prolong her stay. About eight o'clock, who should arrive but Hiram! What a singular coincidence! An introduction followed. Miss Thorne was very natural. She appeared entirely at ease, receiving Hiram with quiet cordiality, as if he were a member of the family. Hiram, on his part, did not exhibit any of those disagreeable qualities for which he received credit, but was apparently quite disarmed by the domesticity of the scene. The conversation became general, and all joined in it. After a while Mr. Bennett withdrew to 'spend a half hour at the club,' assuring Miss Thorne he would return in ample time to hand her to her carriage. Presently the servant called Mrs. Bennett, and hero and heroine were left alone together. There was an awkward pause, which was first broken by Arabella, when the conversation ran on much in this way: 'We are to have a very gay season, I believe.' 'Indeed!' 'I suppose you take a great interest in it?' 'Quite the contrary. I take very little.' 'Still, you seem to enjoy parties.' 'Why, yes. When I go, the best thing I can do is to enjoy them.' 'But you like to go, don't you?' 'I can scarcely say I do--sometimes, perhaps.' 'A person who waltzes as well as you do ought to like parties, I am sure.' 'I feel very much flattered to have you praise my waltzing.' There was another pause. It was again broken by Miss Thorne. 'Do you know I think you so droll?' 'Me! pray, what is there droll about me?' 'Oh, I don't know. I can't tell. But you are droll--very droll.' 'Really, I was not conscious of it.' 'Were you aware that you occupy a seat directly in front of me in church?' 'Certainly; that's not droll, is it?' 'Well, yes; I think it is, rather. But that is not what I was going to say. Will you answer me one question truly? It will seem strange for me to ask it,' simpered Arabella; 'but you must know your cousin Mrs. Bennett and I are the dearest friends--the _very_ dearest friends; and meeting you here, it seems different, and I am not so much afraid of you.' Hiram sat with eyes wide open, in affected ignorance of what could possibly come next. 'Now you put me out, indeed you do; I can never say what I was going to, in the world.' '_Do_,' said Hiram, gently.