Suppose Hugh should fancy a person whose fortune was much larger than the one left him by Uncle John, do you think he would let it pass just for the sake of holding Spring Bank ?" "Perhaps not," 'Lina replied; "but there's no possible danger of any one's fancying Hugh." "And why not ?" quickly interrupted the mother.

"He has the kindest heart in the world, and is certainly fine-looking if he would only dress decently." "I'm much obliged for your compliment, mother," Hugh said, laughingly, as he stepped suddenly into the room and laid his hand caressingly on his mother's head, thus showing that even he was not insensible to flattery.

"Have you heard that sound again ?" he continued.

"It wasn't Tommie, for I found him asleep, and I've been all around the house, but could discover nothing.

The storm is beginning to abate, I think, and the moon is trying to break through the clouds," and, going again to the window, Hugh looked out into the yard, where the shrubbery and trees were just discernible in the grayish light of the December moon.