"What country people, Alice? I don't suppose we will be rich enough to keep company with great people," said I, "but you always speak as if you knew quite well where I was to live, when the truth is, that nobody knows, and that Mr. Osborne is to find a house for us, if he can." Alice made no immediate reply. I liked her pleasant talk and recollections, and I did not like to bring them to an end, so I resumed the conversation by a question. "I never asked you, Alice, how you got those roses from Cottiswoode, that night, you remember, three weeks ago?" "I have some more to-day, Miss Hester," said Alice. "Have you? how did you get them? I hope the master of the house does not think that his flowers are stolen for us," said I, with a little indignation. "You ought to take care, Alice, that you do not compromise my father and me." "There is no fear, Miss Hester," said Alice, almost with a little bitterness. "The young Squire, your cousin, would never believe your papa nor you to stoop out of your pride for a fancy like that. No, a friend brought me the flowers for my own pleasure, and if you'd rather not have them, I'll take them back to my own room." "Why, Alice, how foolish you are," said I, turning back in surprise to look at her. "I wonder now why _you_ should care for my cousin. I don't see how he can be anything to you." "Kindness is a deal to me, dear; I never like to see a kind meaning despised," said Alice. "You flatter me, Alice," said I, with some pique; "you think it was a kind meaning that my cousin should propose to share his new inheritance with me; perhaps you think it is a kind meaning which moves Harry too?" "Oh, Miss Hester!" cried Alice, with a subdued groan, "don't talk in that way, it's just as your papa did. You'll break my heart." "Alice, you don't know--no one knows, what papa has had to suffer," said I. "He gave her all his heart, and she took it, because she was sorry for him! Never say that to me again; I would rather die--I would rather die, than be so bitterly deceived!" Again I heard the groaning sigh with which Alice had answered me, but this time she did not say anything. I was somewhat excited. I did not now attempt to resume our talk again. I was annoyed and distracted to hear my cousin's "generous" proposal brought before me this morning. I felt myself humiliated by it. I felt as if it were a scoff at Harry to say that any one had entertained compassion for his bride--and it occurred to me, that I would like to meet Edgar Southcote, perhaps in a year or two, and show him how far I was from being such a one as he would pity. This idea possessed me immediately, and I said in the impulse of the moment--"By and bye, Alice, I will have no objection to see my cousin."