"Oh, dear; there's no fear of her then. If I were to go over sixteen before I married, I should be frightened to death." "Suppose Carpenter offers himself?" "I hope he won't just yet." "Why?" "I want two or three strings to my bow. It would be dangerous to reject one unless I had another in my eye." "Reject? Nonsense! Why should you reject an offer?" "My mother had three offers before she was sixteen, and rejected two of them." "Was she married so early?" "Oh, yes; she was a wife at sixteen, and I'm not going to be a day later, if possible. I'd like to decline _three_ offers and get married into the bargain before a year passes. Wouldn't that be admirable? It would be something to boast of all my life." Pretty well advanced!--the reader no doubt exclaims; and so our young lady certainly was. When a very young girl gets into love matters, she "does them up," as the saying is, quite fast; she doesn't mince matters at all. A maiden of twenty is cooler, more thoughtful, and more cautious. She thinks a good deal, and is very careful how she lets any one--even her confidante, if she should happen to have one, (which is doubtful)--know much beyond her mere external thoughts. Four or five years make a good deal of difference in these things. But this need hardly have been said. "You are going to Mrs. Ashton's on Wednesday evening, of course?" said Clara Spenser to Anna, on visiting her one morning, some weeks after the introduction to Carpenter had taken place. "Oh, certainly; their soirees, I'm told, are elegant affairs." "Indeed they are; I've been to two of them. Fine music, pleasant company, and so much freedom of intercourse--oh, they are delightful!" "Did you ever see Mr. Carpenter there?" "Oh, yes; he always attends." "I shall enjoy myself highly." "That you will--the young men are so attentive." Wednesday night soon came round, and Anna was permitted to go, unattended by either of her parents, to the so-called soiree at Mrs. Ashton's. As she had hoped and believed, Carpenter was there. His attentions to her were constant and flattering; he poured many compliments into her ears, talking to her all the time in a low, musical tone. Anna's heart fluttered in her bosom with pleasure; she felt that she had made a conquest. But the fact of bringing so charming a young man to her feet, and that so speedily, quickened her pride, and made it seem the easiest thing in the world to be able to reject three lovers and yet be engaged, or even married, at sixteen. Besides Carpenter, there was another present who saw attractions about Anna Wyman. He wore a moustache, and made quite a dashing appearance. In the language of many young ladies, who admired him, he was an elegant-looking young man--just the one to be proud of as a beau. His name was Elliott.