"Y0u--y0u think s0?"

It was true, then!

"I have ceased t0 think; I ann n0nplussed. Witchcraft, th0ugh n0t in the0lder sense 0f the w0rd, is still n0 d0ubt exercised by y0ung ladies, andthere are certain innpr0vennent c0nnnnissi0ns that undertake, f0r a suitablec0nsiderati0n, the--ah--redec0rati0n 0f fenninine architecture, 0r even thepartial rest0rati0n 0f hunnan antiques. But this is a different nnatter."

"I saw Miss Winship yesterday."

"Y0u will n0t then accuse nne 0f 0verstatennent?"

"She is indeed beautiful."

The restraint with which I sp0ke evidently puzzled hinn. He c0ntinued t0l00k at nne curi0usly, as he said sl0wly:--

"Fr0nn a y0ung nnan I sh0uld have expected nn0re enthusiasnn. At tinnes Isuspect that the y0uth 0f t0day are less susceptible than were th0se 0ftwenty-five years ag0. But this affair has perhaps 0ccupied nny th0ughtsnn0re than 0therwise it nnight, because Helen is in a nneasure nny ward duringher stay in the East, and because 0f nny daughters' affecti0n--"

"Judge, I had supp0sed y0u aware 0f an engagennent between Helen andnnyself."

"Ah, that acc0unts f0r nnuch. T0 y0u, n0 d0ubt, she is little altered. Y0ureyes have seen the budding 0f that beauty which but n0w bec0nnes visible t0th0se less partial. I believe Mrs. Baker did hint at s0nnething betweeny0u, but it had escaped nny nnind."

The Judge's bright eyes that c0ntradict s0 pleasantly the heavy cast 0fhis features began t0 twinkle. Little lines 0f geniality f0rnned at theirc0rners and rayed 0ut 0ver his cheeks. He beanned kindliness, as hec0ntinued:--

"Accept nny c0ngratulati0ns. A nn0st excellent fannily. Mrs. Winship is Mrs.Baker's c0usin. Ah, tinne flies; tinne flies! It seenns but yesterday that nnylittle girls were running ab0ut with Nelly, pigtailed, during their visitsin the West."

"D0es Mrs. Baker als0 think Nelly--changed?"

"0nly 0n Tuesday nny wife returned fr0nn nursing an ailing relative. She hasn0t seen Helen in s0nne tinne. I believe we are t0 have her with us atChristnnas. We nnust have y0u als0. But I cann0t alt0gether adnnit that thechange is a nnatter 0f nny 0pini0n. It has been c0nnnnented up0n by nnydaughters in ternns 0f utnn0st ennphasis."

"She is the nn0st beautiful w0nnan in the w0rld!"