“Make a good match, do you mean?”

“If she can find her match,” caressing the hand on the arm of the chair.

“Oh, Miss Jewett, tell us a story! A real love story! Humor me just this once, this last time! I don’t like advice and I do like love stories.”

“Do you, too, Tessa?”

“Yes, I shall write one some day! They shall both be perfect and love each other perfectly. It shall not be an earthly story, but a heavenly one.”

“That would be too tame,” said Sue. “I should want it to be a little wicked.”

“That would be more like life—”

“And then get good in the end! That is like life, too,” interrupted Sue. “Now, go on, please.”

“Very well. To-night is an event, I suppose I may as well celebrate it. I will tell you about a present I had once, the most perfect gift I ever received.”

“But I wanted a love story.”