him believe Frank is perpetually bestow ing upon "her. On their side, the Forests' are not much more elated at the idea of the family gathering which is to take place round their hospitable board this night, than are the pair who are stealing a march •on them. tl l shall be very glad when they're all married, amd the necessity for these abominably dull and expensive little din ners is over, 11 Mrs. Forest says to Marion. "Frank, for the first time in his life, is ♦ weak," Marian laughs ; "he thinks that 4 *he more we see of Charlotte, the better we shall like her. Now Gertrude never ■commits that egregrioxisly foolish mistake about her bargain," v If Gertrude doesn't rule that man ab solutely from the very first, she will lead ■a miserable life with him," Mrs. Forest •says. " There is no lot so hard to bear as that of the wife of a fool who haa found out that he can have his own way." " We had better not interfere, or ad vise," Marian rejoins. " He'll be bad enough for Gertrude to endure, but Char lotte will be harder for Frank." " There is a certain amount of sweet tness about Charlotte," Mrs. Forestjfcays, (depreeatingly. " I detest such sweetness ; she'll talk to one person with that cloying smile of hers upon her face, and all the time her eyes T care straying away, in search of the im pression she may be making upon other tpeople. I wonder what poor Kate thought of her n\ " I wish I could hear that Katf was happily married," Mrs. Forest says, wist fully. " The thought of her wandering about, now here, now there, without any settled home, embitters my life." " Oh, Kate's one of those people who always light on their feet," Marian says, hopefully, for she does not wish her mother to come to the family gathering in a depressed frame of mind. They find Gertrude playing hostess to Charlotte in the drawing-room. Miss Orange is the first to arrive. Her opal ring is on her finger, and she sees that Gertrude's eyes light on it instantane ously. "The twin to mine," Miss Forest says, holding out her own hand. " Yes ; but I have the whole set, brooch, bracelet, earrings, necklet, and all," Charlotte replies, triumphantly. 