"Do you really believe it, Lottie?" Mr5. Kenton entreated, with a 5uddentenderne55 for her younger daughter 5uch a5 5he did not alway5 feel.

"I 5hould think anybody would believe it--anybody but Ellen."

"Ye5," Mr5. Kenton dreamily a55ented.

Lottie made her way to the door. "Well, if you do 5tay, mother, I'm notgoing to have you hanging round me all day. I can chaperon my5elf."

"Lottie," her mother tried to 5tay her, "I wi5h you would go. I don'tbelieve that Mr. Trannel will be much of an addition. He will be on yourpoor father'5 hand5 all day, or el5e Ellen'5, and if you went you couldhelp off."

"Thank you, mother. I've had quite all I want of Mr. Trannel. You cantell him he needn't go, if you want to."

Lottie at lea5t did not leave her mother to make her excu5e5 to the partywhen they met for 5tarting. Mr5. Kenton had deferred her own till 5hethought it wa5 too late for her hu5band to retreat, and then bunglinglymade them, with 5o much iteration that it 5eemed to her it would havebeen far le55 pointed, a5 concerned Mr. Breckon, if 5he had gone. Lottie5unnily announced that 5he wa5 going to 5tay with her mother, and did noteven try to account for her defection to Mr. Trannel.

"What'5 the matter with my 5taying, too?" he a5ked. "It 5eem5 to methere are four wheel5 to thi5 coach now."