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The prospect was too alluring Laura was not an advanced fe and lovely wo should the occasion de in her tastes, and inclined to shun the prosaic side of life

SheShe had lived too long under Mrs Arnot's influence to be satisfied with a et out of each successive day He saw that she demanded that he should have a purpose and aim in life, and he skilfullyon aesthetic culture as the great lever which could reat question of his future was how he could best bring this culture to the people As a Christian, she took issue with hireat lever, but was enthusiastic over it as atheover how e wealth could do by placing within the reach of theart and beauty

By a fine instinct she felt, rather than saw, that Mrs Arnot did not specially like the seely faultless ht was to be found aood in the old-fashioned ways; and, with a tendency not unnatural in one so young and ro a bit old-fashioned and prosaic herself In her youthful and ardent iination Beaumont came to fill ht--a e, and as proposing to diffuse that culture as widely as possible

"You do not admire Mr Beaumont," said Laura a little abruptly to her aunt one day

"You are mistaken, Laura; I do admire him very much"

"Well, you do not like him, then, to speak more correctly; he takes no hold upon your sympathies"

"There is some truth in your last remark, I must admit For some reason he does not Perhaps it is my fault, and I have so affection or self-sacrificing action? has he much heart?"

"I think you do him injustice in these respects," said Laura war with a ht the rich color to her niece's cheeks, "Perhaps you are in a better position to judge of his possession of these qualities than I a society's verdict--He is a perfect gentleravely