“That, while claiming the merit of humility, you at once enter upon a self-defence.” “Well, perhaps I _am_ capricious!” said Mary, smiling. “And haughty?” asked the other, slowly. “I believe so!” said Mary, with a degree of dignity that seemed to display the sentiment while confessing to it. “I have never heard a heavier accusation against Miss Martin than these,” said she, “and I have lived with those who rarely scruple how to criticise their betters.” Mary was silent and thoughtful; she knew not how to interpret the mingled praise and censure she had just listened to. “But tell me rather of yourself,” said Mary, as though willing to turn the topic of conversation. “I should like to hear your story.” “At thirteen years of age--I believe even a year later--I was the playfellow of the young gentleman you see yonder,” said Kate Henderson, “but who, to-night, seems incapable of remembering anything or anybody.” “Of Mr. Nelligan?” repeated Mary. And Joseph started as he heard his name, looked up, and again relapsed into revery. “I 'm not sure that we were not in love. I almost confess that I was, when my father sent me away to France to be educated. I was very sad--very, very sad--at being taken away from home and thrown amongst strangers, with none of whom I could even interchange a word; and I used to sit and cry for hours by myself, and write sorrowful love-letters to 'dearest Joseph,' and then imagine the answers to them; sometimes I actually wrote them, and would suffer agonies of anguish before I dared to break the seal and learn the contents. Meanwhile I was acquiring a knowledge of French, and knew a little of music, and used to sing in our choir at chapel, and learned to believe the world was somewhat larger than I had hitherto thought it, and that St. Gudule was finer than the mean little church at Oughterard; and worse still--for it _was_ worse--that the sous-lieutenants and cadets of the Military College had a much more dashing, daring look about them than 'poor Joseph;' for so I now called him to myself, and gave up the correspondence soon after.