Among the younger men more than one gay moth, dazzled by the light of the girl's beautiful eyes, had been tempted to hover near the flame, only to scorch his wings. Miss Murdock had already refused several of the "best matches" of the city during her two seasons, much to the relief of those young men who had not yet summoned up courage enough to try their fate, and much to the disgust of a few amiable young women and several designing mammas. The latter could not help but deprecate the wicked selfishness of a young girl who hypothecated and thus rendered temporarily unavailable much potential matrimonial stock, which, in the nature of things, would ultimately be thrown back on the market upon the selection by the fair one of that single bond to whose exclusive possession she was limited by the laws of church and state. The fact of the matter was, that Agnes Murdock's ideal of life was high. She was determined, if she ever embarked upon a matrimonial venture, to do so only with a reasonably good prospect of finding in the wedded state a satisfactory outlet for the depths of affection which had remained so long unapplied in her tender maiden heart. No one among the young men who had sought her hand had seemed worthy of the great love she was ready to bestow. She was, therefore, still awaiting her fate. "You wished to see me, sir?" the young girl gently insinuated. "Yes," said Murdock, with great deliberation; "I wished to speak to you about----" He watched her face intently, as if to read the effect which his words would produce. The light in his eyes was almost tender; but Agnes was not skilled in reading their scarcely perceptible shades of expression. She looked up inquiringly, noting only the slight hesitation in her father's speech. "About a young man----" continued Murdock, with a quizzical smile. A flush mounted to the girl's cheeks, and she fixed her eyes upon space. "A young man who admires you greatly, and who----" "Has he asked you to tell me this?" inquired Agnes, somewhat impatiently. "Oh! dear no," laughed the chemist; "he is only too anxious to do so himself. He is a most impetuous fellow. But I thought it best to prepare you----" "May I ask the name of your protégé?" interrupted the young girl. "Did I say he was my protégé?" asked Murdock, gently. "I certainly had no intention of conveying any such impression. His name is Chatham--Thomas Chatham." A look, half of amusement, half of vexation, came into the girl's eyes. It did not escape Murdock's close scrutiny. "I judge from your reception of the gentleman's name, that his suit is not likely to meet with much favor in your eyes." "I am not aware that I have ever given Mr. Chatham any reason to believe that it would," answered Agnes, stiffly. "And yet you must have understood the drift of his attentions during the last few months, since----" "Since it has been perfectly clear to every one else, you mean?