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"Old heathen!" said Florence, glancing back over her shoulder as he disappeared from view

Mr Dill was startled from a reverie inspired by the back of Julia's head "'Heathen'?" he said, in plaintive inquiry

"I meant Herbert," Florence infor Dutch"

"'Cousin Herbert Atwater'?" said Noble dreamily "'Dutch'?"

"He won't any more," said Florence "He always hass to show off, now his voice is changing" She spoke, and she also walked, with dignity--a rather dashing kind of dignity, which hat Herbert's eccentricity of gait intended to point out injuriously In fact, never before had Florence been so impressed with herself; never before, indeed, had she been a one walking with an actual adult young man for her escort; and she felt that she owed it to her position to appear in as brilliant an aspect as possible Shefroreat deal of satisfaction as she now and then caught the effect by twisting her neck enough to see down behind, over her shoulder

But her poise was te-party passed her own house Hernear an openupstairs, and, after gazing forth arm interest at Julia and her two outwalkers, Mrs Atwater's astonished eyes fell upon Florence taking care of the overflow Florence bowed graciously

"Florence!" her mother called down from the hereupon both Florence and her Aunt Julia were instantly apprehensive, for Mrs George Atwater's lack of tact was a legend in the fa?"

"Never ht best to respond "Never mind!"

"You'd better come in," Mrs Atwater called, her voice necessarily louder as the party moved onward

"Never mind!" Florence called back

Mrs Atwater leaned out of the"Where are you going? Coet a sunstroke!"

Florence was able to conceal her indignation, and merely waved a hand in airy dis her still shouting

The daughter set over it!" she said

"Who?"

"My mother She was the one makin' all that noise," said Florence "Sometis to the way I feel" She looked up in her companion's face, and her expression becaht how uncouth he was, for in Florence's eye Noble Dill was truly rare, exquisite, and unfamiliar; and she believed that he was obs, too, whatever that o than yesterday she had told Kitty Silver that she couldn't see "how Aunt Julia could look at anybody else!"