"Fascinating?"
"Oh, yeth! He is extremely elegant in his dreth, and his manners are perfectly charming. His language is ectheedingly pretty, and thometimes gorgeouthly thublime."
"I wish you would let Father Brighthopes finish the story he was telling me," said Lizzie, bluntly.
"A story?" cried Miss Smith. "Thertainly. Let me thit down and hear it too. I'm pathionately fond of stories."
In taking a seat she was careful to place herself in close proximity to Chester, who was engaged in conversation with Julia.
The clergyman resumed his narrative, in which not only Lizzie, but her father and mother also, had become interested. It was a reminiscence of his own early life. He told of afflictions, trials, all sorts of perplexities and struggles with the world, in experiencing which his heart had been purified, and his character had been formed.
As he proceeded, his audience increased. The company came from the parlor and gathered around him, until the scene of the kissing games was quite deserted. Only one person remained behind. Hepsy, with her face behind the window-curtains, was sobbing.
Chester thought of her, and, stealing out of the sitting-room, to find her, stood for some seconds by her side, before she was aware of his presence.