Mrs.Carlton, who was present, said to Mrs.
Freeman, an hour after the company had assembled-- "Where is Miss Hampton?
I've been looking for her all the evening.
Isn't she well ?" "What Miss Hampton do you mean ?" asked Mrs.Freeman, drawing herself up with an air cold and dignified.
"Miss Jessie Hampton," replied Mrs.Carlton.
"Sure enough!" said a young man, who was sitting by, and who had been attentive to Fanny Freeman; "where is Miss Hampton?
I haven't seen her for a long time.

What can have become of her?
Is she dead, or is she married ?" "Her uncle, I suppose you know, failed in business, and has become poor," replied Mrs.Carlton.
"True.

I was perfectly aware of that, but didn't reflect that poverty was a social crime.

And is it possible that so lovely a girl as Jessie Hampton has been excluded from the circle she so graced with her presence, because of this change in her uncle's circumstances ?" "It is true to a very great extent, Mr.Edgar," returned Mrs.Carlton, "though I am glad to say that there are a few who can appreciate the real gold of her character, and who love her as truly and esteem her as highly as ever they did." "A worthy few, and if I were only so fortunate as to fall in company with her, I would be of the number.

Is she here to-night ?" The young man looked at Mrs.Freeman, and became aware, from the expression of her face, that the subject was disagreeable to her.