"There! there! don't ask questions; I'll tell by and by. Go and do it."
"Well, you have always some new crotchet in your crotchety little head," said Jennie, as she started to obey.
In a few moments she reappeared, leaning on the arm of the "distinguished" Mr. Rivers. Our Archie has not changed as much as Gipsy has done during these years, save that he has grown taller and more manly-looking. He has still his frank, handsome, boyish face; his merry blue eye and boisterous manner, a little subdued.
The indistinct tone in which Miss Moore introduced him prevented him from catching the name, but he scarcely observed; and seeing in the young lady, whose lips were now pursed up and whose eyes were cast modestly on the floor, a shrinking, bashful girl, he charitably began to draw her out.
"There is quite an assembly here this evening," was his original remark, by way of encouraging her.
"Yes, sir," was the reply, in a tone slightly tremulous, which he ascribed to maiden bashfulness.
"What a delightful young lady your friend, Miss Moore, is," continued Archie.
"Yes, sir."
"There are a great many beautiful ladies in the room."
"Yes, sir."