" Can't you guess ? Tou shall entert^jn the Sewing-TJnion
B«ev«ning. We vnll meet at Lakeside : it Isjust the ihingl"
■* Are yon serious, Mrs. Waldo V I coold not, of course, be
b nngmcioufl us to refuse, provided there is no Impropriety
ouniplianoe'. Wlmt wonid Ptolemy say to the plan ?"
" m take charge of that 1" alio cried. " Impropriety ! Are
« not a steady, reepeotable Member of Society, I should liko
a know ? If there's any thing set down against you, we must
;d U> Galoutta to find it. And we are sure there are no trap-
s at Lakeside, or walled-up skeletons, or Blue Beard cbam-
ert. Besides, this isn't Mulligansv-ille or Anacreon, and il h
Bl necessary to be so very straight-laced. Oh yes, il is the
ary thing. As for the domestic preparations, count on my
irip, if it is Deeded."

I am afraid " he replied, " that Mrs, Babb would resent
ny interference with her authority. In fact," he added,
*' I am not oert^ that it is safe to decide, without
St oonralting her."

" TTiere, now I" rejoined Mrs, Waldo. " Do you remember
vhai I once toJd you ? Yes, you bachelors, who boast of
yoar indepernlence of woman, are the only real slaves to the
No wife is such a tyrant as a housekeeper. Not but
i Mrs. Babb is a very honest, conscientious, proper sort of
'•porMn, — lint she don't make a home, Mr. Woodbury. You
jboald g«t murried."

"TLa* is easily said, Mrs, Waldft," he replied, with a laugh
VliSeb covered, like a Juxnriant sunmier vine, the entrance to
M ligliiog oarern, — " easily said, and might be easily done, if
• wer» allowed to choose a wife for her domestic qnalltiea,
Fphud at BO much per month."




ILitfNAH THTFUSTON :



"Pshawl" a.iid she, with asBnmed contempt. "Toa»ro
not a natural cyiiie, and bave no right to be einglet at your
age, witbout a good reason."

" Perhaps there ta a good reason, Mrs. Waldo. Few per-
B0D9, 1 imagine, remain single from choice. I have lost the
euscepttbility of mj younger dnya, but not the ideal of a true
wedded life. I ehonld not dare to take the only perfect
woman in the world, unless I could be lover aa well a« hus-
band. 