sole thought was the mountain of prejudice she had to contend against. She bowed, and said, Clare wanted sea-air--she had never quite recovered the shock of that dreadful night. How long, Mrs. Doria wished to know, might the Peculiar Period be expected to last? "That," said Sir Austin, "depends. A year, perhaps. He is entering on it. I shall be most grieved to lose you, Helen. Clare is now--how old?" "Seventeen." "She is marriageable." "Marriageable, Austin! at seventeen! don't name such a thing. My child shall not be robbed of her youth." "Our women marry early, Helen." "My child shall not!" The baronet reflected a moment. He did not wish to lose his sister. "As you are of that opinion, Helen," said he, "perhaps we may still make arrangements to retain you with us. Would you think it advisable to send Clare--she should know discipline--to some establishment for a few months?" "To an asylum, Austin?" cried Mrs. Doria, controlling her indignation as well as she could. "To some select superior seminary, Helen. There are such to be found." "Austin!" Mrs. Doria exclaimed, and had to fight with a moisture in her eyes. "Unjust! absurd!" she murmured. The baronet thought it a natural proposition that Clare should be a bride or a schoolgirl. "I cannot leave my child." Mrs. Doria trembled. "Where she goes, I go. I am aware that she is only one of our sex, and therefore of no value to the world, but she is my child. I will see, poor dear, that you have no cause to complain of her." "I thought," Sir Austin remarked, "that you acquiesced in my views with regard to my son."