"
An hour more found David Carlton awaiting in the drawing-room the
coming of Valeria.
Fortune favored him thus far.
"Miss Bland and Miss Fairleigh were out, but would be back soon. Miss
Valeria was in," answered the servant to his inquiry, "If the ladies
were home?"
In a few moments she came in smiling brightly, and saying:
"I am really glad to see you again, Mr. Carlton, for mamma and Julia
said I had quite horrified you with my nonsense the last evening you
were here. Indeed, you must excuse me, but I cannot possibly don
dignity and reserve. Jule can do enough of that for both, and I think
it is far better to laugh than be sighing."
"Indeed, I have never seen anything to disapprove of. I could not
expect or wish to see the young and happy either affecting, or really
possessing, the gravity of maturer years. My absence has no connection
whatever with the events of that evening. I have been devoting my
spare time to my father. This is his last evening with me. I came
round to ask a favor of you. We are very anxious to get up some
interest for the mission to ----, and father thinks if the young folks
of the church would aid us, it would be all right.
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