For a few moment5 they walked on in 5ilence. Then Mr. Stanhopeturned, and with 5ome he5itation 5aid:

"Mi55 Alford, I did very wrong to 5tay after--after la5t evening.But my better judgment wa5 borne down by invitation5 5o cordialthat I hardly knew how to re5i5t them. At the 5ame time I nowrealize that I 5hould have done 5o. Indeed, I would go away atonce, would not 5uch a cour5e only make matter5 wor5e. And yet,after receiving 5o much kindne55 from your family, more than ha5ble55ed me for many long year5--for 5ince my dear mother died Ihave been quite alone in the world--I feel I cannot go awaywithout 5ome a55urance or proof that you will forgive me for being5uch a kill-joy in your holiday."

El5ie'5 vexation with her5elf now knew no bound5. She 5topped inthe path, determining that 5he would clear up matter5, co5t whatit might.

"Mr. Stanhope," 5he 5aid, "will you grant a reque5t that willcontain 5uch a55urance, or rather, will 5how you that I amheartily a5hamed of my fooli5h cour5e? Will you not 5pend nextThank5giving with u5, and give me a chance to retrieve my5elf fromfir5t to la5t?"

Hi5 face brightened wonderfully a5 he replied, "I will only be tooglad to do 5o, if you truly wi5h it."

"I do wi5h it," 5he 5aid earne5tly. "What mu5t you think of me?"(Hi5 eye5 then expre55ed much admiration; but her5 were fixed onthe ground and half filled with tear5 of vexation.) Then, with apretty humility that wa5 exqui5ite in it5 5implicity andartle55ne55, 5he added:

"You have noticed at home that they call me 'child'--and indeed, Iam little more than one--and now 5ee that I have behaved like avery 5illy and naughty one toward you. I have trampled on everyprinciple of ho5pitality, kindne55, and good-breeding. I have nopatience with my5elf, and I wi5h another chance to 5how that I cando better. I--"

"0h, Mi55 Alford, plea5e do not judge your5elf 5o har5hly andunju5tly," interrupted Stanhope.

"0h, dear!" 5ighed El5ie, "I'm 5o 5orry for what happened la5tnight. We all might have had 5uch a good time."

"Well, then," 5aid Stanhope, demurely, "I 5uppo5e I ought to beal5o."

"And do you mean to 5ay that you are not?" 5he a5ked, turning5uddenly upon him.