one day after another for their own.  It seemed impossible, and perhaps unwise, to go on with the reading she had planned, and, in fact, she had been urged to attend to her books rather by habit than natural inclination; and when the temptation to drift with the stream first made itself felt, the reasons for opposing it seemed to fade away.  It was easier to remember that Dr. Leslie, and even those teachers who knew her best at the medical school, had advised a long vacation.

The first formal visits and entertainments were over with for the most part, and many of the Dunport acquaintances began to seem like old friends.  There had been a little joking about Nan’s profession, and also some serious remonstrance and unwise championship which did not reach this heroine’s ears.  It all seemed romantic and most unusual when anybody talked about her story at all, and the conclusion was soon reached that all such whims and extravagances were merely incident to the pre-Dunportian existence, and that now the young guest had come to her own, the responsibilities and larger field of activity would have their influence over her plan of life.  The girl herself was disposed to talk very little about this singular fancy; it may have been thought that she had grown ashamed of it as seen by a brighter light, but the truth was it kept a place too near her heart to allow her to gossip with people who had no real sympathy, and who would ask questions from curiosity alone.  Miss Eunice Fraley had taken more than one opportunity, however, to confess her interest, though she did this with the manner of one who dares to be a conspirator against public opinion, and possibly the permanent welfare of society, and had avowed, beside, her own horror of a doctor’s simplest duties.  But poor Miss Fraley looked at her young friend as a caged bird at a window might watch a lark’s flight, and was strangely glad whenever there was a chance to spend an hour in Nan’s company.

The first evening at Mrs. Fraley’s had been a great success, and Miss Prince had been vastly pleased because both the hostess and the guest had received each other’s commendation.  Mrs. Fraley was, perhaps, the one person whom Miss Prince recognized as a superior officer, and she observed Nan’s unconscious and suitable good behavior with great pride.  The hostess had formerly been an undisputed ruler of the highest social circles of Dunport society, and now in her old age, when she could no longer be present at any public occasions, she was still the queen of a little court that assembled in her own house.  It was true that the list of her subjects grew shorter year by year, but the survivors remained loyal, and hardly expected, or even desired, that any of the newcomers to the town should recognize their ruler.  Nan had been much interested in the old lady’s stories, and had gladly accepted an invitation to come often to renew the first conversation.  She was able to give Mrs. Fraley much welcome information