DISCONTENT.

After awhile the young man arose and took his leave, with a grave seriousness that made Constance thoughtful for a moment. When he had entered the hall, she started up and followed him, quite regardless of the smiles her movement excited.

"William," she said, laying a caressing hand on his arm. "Dear William, you are not going away so, without a word, without——"

She lifted herself on tip-toe, and made a perfect apple-blossom of her mouth, which might have tempted a very saint from the altar, it was so fresh and blooming.

He kissed her offered lips coldly, and turned away.

"What is the matter, William? What have I done?"

"Nothing, Constance—I scarcely know; but, all at once, this house seems strange to me. Who is that man?"

"A friend of father's, I suppose. You know as much as I do. He seems pleasant enough. I rather like him."

"Are you fond of foxes?"

"I never saw one, except in a cage."

"Or hawks?"

"Yes, when they swoop down upon the chickens. I saw a magnificent fellow do it once—and it was splendid. Oh, yes! I do like hawks."

"Good-night, Constance."

"Really! But when will you come again—to-morrow, early?"

"Perhaps. Yes, I will."

Once more the girl stood on tip-toe, and tempted him with her rosy mouth. Once more his kiss fell upon it cold as a drop of rain—and this time he went down stairs and out of the house. She leaned over the balusters, and looked after him as if half-tempted to follow, but gave her head a little toss, and went back to the parlor.

"What is the matter with him?" questioned Hudson, a little anxiously.

"Oh! he's out of sorts—people looked at me so much in the theatre, and he did not like it. I wonder why he cannot enjoy their nonsense, and laugh at it, as I do."

"It isn't likely that he would," broke in Church, leaning both elbows on the table, and fixing his admiring eyes on the girl. "That is asking too much of infirm human nature, Miss Constance. I don't blame the audience either, for you are a wonderfully pretty girl."

"Church," said Hudson, "my daughter does not require this."

"Excuse me. When the sun shines, one naturally says it is a pleasant day. I meant no more than that."

"Oh! father is always angry if any one tells me that—that I am not a fright," said Constance with a pout, tossing her head. "Just as if I couldn't see!"

Church laughed, but shook his head, and glanced at Hudson, as if he, too, rather disapproved of this flippant air.

"Six months will be needed to teach her more things than engraving," he said, in a low voice, as Constance entered a little bed-room, and was taking off her bonnet—a flashy little affair, which she had kept on till now.

Church made a slight motion with his hand towards the room where Constance was standing before a little mahogany-framed looking-glass, smoothing back the rich masses of her hair, and admiring herself with genuine satisfaction.

"I have not thought of the girl in that light," said Hudson.

"No, I can see; neglected, and allowed to run wild. That does well enough in the country, where the very atmosphere gives something of refinement; but in the city——Well, you see what it does in the city. Now, I take it, there is not a sweeter face to be found within ten miles than that in yonder; but, without grace and gentle training, what will it amount to? The young fellow, infatuated as he evidently is, feels that there is something wanting. Now, to an artist, that dress would be a repulsion; but, to a man calculating her capabilities, it is full of promise, for it bespeaks ambition."

"You have been studying her keenly."

"Oh! this needs no study! The girl, as yet, is all on the surface; she never had an earnest thought in her life."

Constance came out of her room just then, arranging the long train of her dress, which rattled with a metallic sound under her hand, as some cheap silks will. She was, indeed, very beautiful, for now a neck, perfect in form, and white as the first opening leaf of a lily, was revealed by the neatly-fitting Pompadour bodice, adown which one long wreathing curl fell almost to the waist. She fairly brought light with her out of the shadow of that dim room.

The two men, who had been discussing her, looked at each other, one sadly the other smiling. Could too much be said of beauty like that. The creature had talent, as well as beauty, and a capacity for acquiring such knowledge as promised to develop it effectually.