eituptorunaway;buttheywerefoundoutandstopped.ItwasMissReedthatfou:Ibelieveshewasenvious;andnowsheandhersisterleadaddoglifetogether;theyarealwaysquarrelling—”

    “Well,andwhatofJohnReed?”

    “Oh,heisnotdoingsowellashismamacouldwish.Hewenttocollege,a—plucked,Ithinktheycallit:andthenhisuncleswantedhimtobeabarrister,andstudythelaw:butheissuchadissipatedyoungman,theywillnevermakemu,Ithink.”

    “Whatdoeshelooklike?”

    “Heisverytall:somepeoplecallhimafine-lookingyoungman;buthehassuchthicklips.”

    “AndMrs.Reed?”

    “Missislooksstoutandwellenoughintheface,butIthinkshe’snotquiteeasyinhermind:Mr.John’sductdoesnotpleaseher—hespendsadealofmoney.”

    “Didshesendyouhere,Bessie?”

    “No,indeed:butIhavelongwaoseeyou,andwhehattherehadbeeerfromyou,andthatyoingtoanotherpartofthetry,IthoughtI’djustsetof,aalookatyoubeforeyouwerequiteoutofmyreach.”

    “Iamafraidyouaredisappointedinme,Bessie.”Isaidthislaughing:IperceivedthatBessie’sglahoughitexpressedregard,didinnoshapedenoteadmiration.

    “No,MissJaexactly:yenteelenough;youlooklikealady,anditisasmuchaseverIexpectedofyou:youwereyasachild.”

    IsmiledatBessie’sfrankanswer:Ifeltthatitwascorrect,butIfessIwasnotquiteindifferenttoitsimport:ateighteenmostpeoplewishtoplease,andthevithattheyhavenotaeriorlikelytosedthatdesirebringsanythingbutgratification.

    “Idaresayyouareclever,though,”tinuedBessie,bywayofsolace.“Whatyoudo?youplayonthepiano?”

    “Alittle.”

    Therewasoheroom;Bessiee,andtheositdowna