want to talk to you a little, dear. Sit down by me on the sofa ;" and she drew the ethereal white figure towards her. "Oh dear Aunt-I can't possibly sit down !—it would tumble my dress so!" said Katherine, through all her tears. The outward was too much for the inward. A pang shot through the good heart of Aunt Susan. She had held fast her simplicity of soul through all life's changes and temptations, and never could learn to believe in or be prepared for any thing else in others. She half perceived how deeply the prospect of a wealthy marriage, and the preparations for it, which had made Katherine the single object of attention and effort for some weeks, had already tinged the natural and happy thoughts of the young girl. But she was all indulgence; her heart, quick as lightning, framed an excuse for the seeming frivolity, and she yielded her point. "Well, dear, we will stand, if you like it better"—but the change of position quite disconcerted the little speech she had devised for the seemly unburdenment of thoughts that would not be kept down. "Katherine, darling," she said, repressing the impulse to put her arm round the graceful waist now guarded with grandeurs, "all I wished to say to you was that that I hoped that I was afraid-that-I wished you to be quite certain-sure-that you love Mr. Ellis well enough-” "Oh Aunt Susan! how can you! do you think can you suppose" and the bride looked as indignant as truth and nature would let her; for Aunt Susan had touched the tender place in her conscience, the place she had found too tender for her own handling. "Have patience with me, my love, and have courage to look |