"Oh, no! and Laura does not like her. But as Laura is obliged to see a good deal of low people, I like her sometimes to see high people, that her higher nature may not want food."
"I understand. Was that the reason she joined the class?"
"I persuaded her papa to allow her, by assuring him it would improve her voice for singing in the chorus; and now he comes himself, though I rather suspect it is because he likes to know all that is going on in the town."
"She goes home with him, then?"
"Yes. The reason you saw Laura in her dancing-dress was that you might like her. I bade her bring it, and put it on her myself. I did not tell her why, but I wished you to see her too."
"But why did you wish me to like her, Miss Benette?"
"As I told you before,—that you may be kind to her; and also that she might see some one very gentle, I wished her to be here with you."
"Am I gentle, do you consider?"
"I think you are a young gentleman," she answered, with her sweet gravity.
"But I do not see how it could do her good exactly to see gentle persons."