"Do you think it can be made certain?"
"Undoubtedly! why not? the tickets are free the only thing is, to make sure that ours has the true signature. Do you think the possession of that ticket makes life a sadder thing? The very handwriting of it is more precious to me, by far, Miss Constance, than everything else I have."
"But you are a very uncommon instance," said Constance, still unable to look up, and speaking without any of her usual attempt at jocularity.
"No, I hope not," he said, quietly.
"I mean," said Constance, "that it is very uncommon language to hear from a person like you."
"I suppose I know your meaning," he said, after a minute's pause; "but, Miss Constance, there is hardly a graver thought to me, than that power and responsibility go hand in hand."
"It don't generally work so," said Constance, rather uneasily.
"What are you talking about, Constance?" said Mrs. Evelyn.
"Mr. Carleton, Mamma, has been making me melancholy."
"Mr. Carleton," said Mrs. Evelyn, "I am going to petition that you will turn your efforts in another direction. I have felt oppressed all the afternoon, from the effects of that funeral service I was attending I am only just getting over it. The preacher seemed to delight in putting together all the gloomy thoughts he could think of."