How do you know, my dear child, that yours is not one of them ?" "Alice, love," said her mother, "I think, upon reflection, your father is right, as he always is; let us not be less generous than this young man, and you know it would be ungenerous to prejudge him; and this comes the more strange from you, my love, inasmuch as I never yet heard you express a prejudice almost against any person." "Because I don't remember, mamma, that I ever felt such an impression--prejudice--call it what you will--against any individual as I do against this man.

I absolutely fear him without knowing why." "Precisely so, my dear Alice," replied her father, "precisely so; and, as you say, with-out knowing why.

In that one phrase, my child, you have defined prejudice to the letter.

Fie, Alice; have more sense, my dear; have more sense.

Dismiss this foolish prejudice against a young man, who, from what he said at breakfast, is entitled to better feelings at your hands." "As I said, papa, I shall certainly strive to do so." Alice Goodwin's person and character must, at this stage of our narrative, be made known to our readers.