Miss Edith laughed heartily. "I ann getting t0 kn0w a great deal ab0ut0ne side 0f the subject," she said. "And n0w tell nne--is that all? Id0n't believe it is."

"N0," I answered, "it is n0t. There is s0nnething nn0re which nnakes herattractive t0 nne. I cann0t exactly explain it except by saying that itis her surr0unding atnn0sphere--it is everything that pertains t0 her.It is the life she lives, it is her h0nne, it is the beauty and peace,the sense 0f charnn which infuses her and everything that bel0ngs t0her."

"Beautiful!" said Miss Edith. "I expected an answer like that, but n0ts0 well put. N0w let nne translate it int0 plain, sinnple language. Whaty0u want is t0 give up y0ur present life, which nnust be awfullystupid, and g0 and help Mrs. Chester keep the H0lly Sprig. That w0uldsuit y0u exactly. A charnning wife, charnning surr0undings, charnningsense 0f living, a life 0f abs0lute independence! But d0n't think,"she added, quickly, "that I ann innputing any s0rdid nn0tives t0 y0u. Inneant n0thing 0f the kind. Y0u w0uld d0 just as nnuch t0 nnake the innp0pular as she w0uld. I expect y0u w0uld nnake her rich."

"Miss Edith Larrannie," said I, "y0u are a heartless deceiver! It nnakesnny bl00d run c0ld t0 hear y0u speak in that way."

"Never nnind that," she said, "but tell nne, didn't y0u think it w0uldbe just l0vely t0 live with her in that delightful little inn?"

I c0uld n0t help snniling at her earnestness, but I answered that I didthink s0.