with pleasure, or would he rather put it off for another year?" Madame
thought she was already wavering in her determination.

"I am sure that when I have written to him he will expect your arrival
with the _greatest_ pleasure," replied Mr. Cecil Burleigh with kind
emphasis, retaining Bessie's hand for a moment longer than was
necessary, and relinquishing it with a cordial shake.

Bessie's blushes did not abate at the compliment implied in his answer
and in his manner: he had been favorably impressed, and would send to
Abbotsmead a favorable report of her. When he was gone she all in a
moment recollected when and where she had seen him before, and wondered
that he had not reminded her of it; but perhaps he had forgotten too?
She soon let go that reminiscence, and with a light heart, in
anticipation of the future which had appeared in the distance so
unpropitious, she talked of it to madame with a thousand random
speculations, until madame was tired of the subject. And then she talked
of it to Babette, who having no private disappointments in connection
therewith, proved patiently and sympathetically responsive.

"Of course," said Bessie, "we shall go down the river to Havre, and then
we shall cross to Hampton. I shall send them word at home, and some of
them are sure to come and meet me there."

The letter was written and despatched, and in due course of post arrived
an answer from Mr. Carnegie. He would come to Hampton certainly, and his
wife would come with him, and perhaps one of the boys: they would come
or go anywhere for a sight of their dear Bessie. But, fond, affectionate
souls! they were all doomed to disappointment. Mr. Cecil Burleigh wrote
earlier than was expected that he had intelligence from Kirkham to the