I never could bear her." "Then, how good it was in you to come!" exclaimed Zoe gratefully.

"But I should never have asked it of you, if I had thought you disliked her as well as I." They were now in the room Ella was to occupy, and she was taking off her hat and cloak.

"Oh, never mind! I was delighted to come anyhow," she answered gayly, as she threw aside the latter garment, and took possession of an easy-chair beside the open fire.

"To tell you a secret," she went on laughingly, "I like my cousins Ned and Zoe Travilla immensely, and am always glad of an excuse to pay them a visit.

But that Miss Deane,--oh! she's just _too sweet_ for _any thing!_" making a grimace expressive of disgust and aversion, "and a consummate, incorrigible flirt: any one of the male sex can be made to serve her turn, from a boy of sixteen to a man of seventy-five." "I think you are correct about that," said Zoe.