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tinguished professor of medicine, who asked her if she was the wife of that scientific Dr. Howell, of Hanthrop, who wrote such valuable articles for medical journals; and receiving an affirmative reply, the great professor spoke warmly and appreciatively of Dr. Howell's remarkable knowledge of disease and its remedies; of discoveries made by him which had ameliorated the condition of suffering humanity; and expressed a desire to know one who had such depth, breadth, and clearness of thought as had been evinced by Dr. Howell in his essays on medical and scientific subjects. And Mrs. Howell was keen and quick enough to perceive that even in the fashionable world of New York, distinguished talents might hold almost as potent a sway as wealth, and form as sure and strong a foundation for the upbuilding of an honorable name. She had vented much spleen, ill-temper, and dissatisfaction in her letters to the doctor, and his dignified and generous silence she could but confess was the fruit of something more noble in his nature than she had hitherto given him credit for; and after her conversation with the professor, she admitted to Louise that what had seemed to her apathy, indifference, and neglect in the doctor, might be attributed to the idiosyncrasies of genius, and that she should study his peculiarities more carefully hereafter, and, if possible, accord them more respect

Mrs. Howell's tact was equal to any emergency; and for the present it suited her mood to be pleasantly agree. able; and when the doctor, after leading her from the dinner-table to the parlor, asked if the improvements met her approbation, she answered, with as much warinth as could reasonably have been expected, —

"The new carpet is neat and pretty. I had quite set my heart on having an Axminster, like Ralph's; but as I told Lou before dinner, this Brussels will harmonize better

with the house and all its appointments, and the paper, now that we see it under gas-light, is really rather stylish -isn't it, Lou?"

Thus appealed to, the young lady turned her eyes nonchalantly from carpet to paper, exclaiming,

"Don't ask my opinion. The paper looks dreadfully common to me, after seeing uncle Ralph's frescoed walls."

"Of course, my dear, everything looks cheap compared with the elegances which your uncle's wealth commands; but Di has shown good taste in arranging her flowers, and, on the whole, I am not as much shocked with the want of style in our home as I expected to be."

An admission that more than satisfied the doctor; for he remembered that "grapes are not gathered from thorns, nor figs from thistles," and that "lilacs do not bloom in February."

10

CHAPTER XVI.

MISS GOOD ENOW'S ENGAGEMENT.

"Ambition has broad leaves, which overgrow

The feebler heart-plants, blossoming small and low." "With what cracked pitchers go we to deep wells

In this world!"

MRS. BROWNING.

"You needn't look so shocked, Di. Of course I'm fond of my cousin Arthur; he will open for me the doors of just such society as my education and tastes have prepared me to appreciate and adorn. There's no doubt but the highest political honors will be his in due time; and, as the wife of a' senator or diplomate, I can be admitted to the most select and fashionable circles. But if Horace Metcalf had as brilliant prospects and as much ambition, I should give him the preference. You didn't suppose I was so foolish as to be deeply in love with my cousin?"

"I did have some such old-fashioned idea," replied Diantha; and the soft light in her eye and the delicate flushing of her cheek spoke of her tender reverence for the unfashionable sentiment.

It was the morning after Miss Goodenow's return from New York; and Diantha's services having been required in unpacking, she had been rewarded by her half-sister with a history of the choice presents she had received, and the beautiful articles of wearing apparel which had been purchased in the city; and, in an hour of unusual confidence, Louise had spoken of her engagement, and her

regret that Horace Metcalf did not possess the ambition of her cousin, and that he had not made her an offer of marriage before she went to New York; and plain, matterof-fact Diantha had shown in her guess face surprise and grief, that her sister had been actuated by such unworthy considerations in making so solemn a compact; and her expressions of astonishment called from Louise the opening remarks of this chapter.

"I should never allow love for any one, not even the man whose name and position I chose to accept, to become an absorbing passion, because it would so interfere with my pursuits and happiness."

"But wouldn't there be a sweeter and purer happiness in a great love, such as would swallow up all thoughts of selfish pleasure, than could be gathered from any other earthly source ?"

"That's a sentiment you've borrowed from books, Di. In real life, men and women find out what foundation there is to build love upon before permitting their fancies and feelings to take deep root. Arthur is fine looking, and has the unmistakable air and manners of a gentleman; he is well educated, and has many tastes in common with mine; but if he had not wealth and the very best social and political prospects, I should never think of marrying him."

"You never speak of his moral or religious character, Louise, but always of the social advantages to be gained through him, as if wealth and worldly honors could fill one's heart."

"When I say that Arthur is a gentleman, it implies that his moral character is above reproach; and when I promised to marry him, it implied as much love on my part as 'tis for a woman's happiness to cultivate: an intensified, absorbing passion, such as one reads about, never

shows a well-balanced mind, nor adds to the comfort of the marriage relation. I admire Arthur's talents, and honor the ambition which prompts him to seek political preferment, and I like him well enough to use my influence in his behalf; but as for being what uneducated girls would call in love,' I'm not. 'Tis useless to discuss this subject with you, Di; our ideas of life are so different, we must always clash. You are all Howell, amiable, and pious, and sensible, and satisfied to work with common people in a quiet way, while I must have intelligent society and exciting pleasures, or I should simply vegetate — there would be nothing for me worth calling life in such a humdrum existence as yours. Now for business. Have you found out whether Mrs. Jenks can sew for me?”

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"I went to see her before breakfast this morning. She will be very glad to work for you; her husband is quite comfortable now, and little Susie is so much better that Mrs. Jenks is comparatively at leisure. I will carry your sewing to her to-day."

"No. I want to see the woman. You never did know how to make a bargain with poor people; they ask enormous prices, and I have to show them very decidedly that I won't be imposed upon. If Mrs. Jenks will take some of my old clothes in payment for her sewing, I will deal very generously by her, and won't mind throwing in several garments that can be made over for those two great girls of hers. Can you manage to bring her into our kitchen this evening between six and seven o'clock? I shouldn't dare go into Mrs. Jenks's house, nor even into Ferry Street, while there's so much danger from contagion; and, by the way, tell Jane to have a kettle of peppermint or some pungent herb boiling on the stove while Mrs. Jenks is in the kitchen; the exhalations will counteract the pestilential odor carried in such people's clothing."

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