'A lover—yes,' replied Dulcie, with a fond smile. 'The dearest and sweetest fellow in the world!'
'Yet he left you because your papa died and you became penniless?'
'Oh!—no, no; do not say that. Do not think so hardly of Florian!'
'Florian!—what a funny, delightful name; just like one in a novel!' exclaimed Finella. 'So he is called Florian?'
'He, too, was poor. He could not marry me, and probably never can do so.'
'How sad!' said Finella, with genuine sympathy, though from her own experience she could not quite understand poverty.
'Florian—my poor Florian!' said Dulcie, quite borne away by this new sympathy, as she covered her face with her white and tremulous hands, and tried to force back her tears, while Finella kissed, caressed, and tried most sweetly to console her.
'See!' said Dulcie, after a pause, opening her silver locket.
'Oh, what a handsome young fellow!' exclaimed Finella. 'Are you engaged?'
'Hopelessly so.'