“I suppose she must be old Mr. Middleton’s daughter,” was Frank’s teasing reply.

“Of course I know that,” said Gertrude, “but what of her? who is she?”

“Why, I’ve told you once, she is Fanny Middleton,” said Frank.

These and similar answers were all Gertrude could draw from him, and she fell into a fit of pouting; but Frank was accustomed to that, and consequently did not mind it.  Next he announced his intention to visit his Uncle Wilmot.  Gertrude instantly exclaimed, “Now, Frank, you are too bad.  Just as soon as you hear Fanny Middleton is in New York, you start off to see her, without even telling me who she is, or what she is.  In my opinion you are in love with her, and do not wish us to know it.”

This started up Mrs. Cameron’s ideas, and she said, “Frank, I am inclined to believe Gertrude is right; but you surely will be respectful enough to me to answer my questions civilly.”

“Certainly,” said Frank.  “Ask anything you please; only be quick, for it is almost car time.”

“Well then, do you intend to make this Miss Middleton your wife?”

“I do, if she will have me,” said Frank.

The distressed lady groaned audibly, but continued, “One more question, Frank.  Is she rich and well connected?”

Frank passed his hand through the thick curls of his brown hair, and seemed to be trying hard to think of something.  Finally he answered, “Why, really, mother, I never once thought to ask that question.”

“But,” persisted Mrs. Cameron, “you can judge by her appearance, and that of her parents.  Did you not see them?”

Frank laughed loudly as the image of Uncle Joshua as he first saw him in the door, buttoning his suspender, presented itself to his remembrance; but he answered, “Yes, mother, I did see her father, and ’twas the richest sight I ever saw.”

He then proceeded to give a description of Mr. Middleton to his astonished sister and mother, the latter of whom exhibited such distress that Frank very compassionately asked, “if she had the toothache.”

Before she had time to answer, Frank was gone, leaving his mother to lament over the strange infatuation which always led Frank in pursuit of somebody beneath him.

“I know,” said she to Gertrude, “that this Fanny Middleton is from a horrid low family, and is as poor as a church mouse.”

So while Frank was hurrying toward the village of C——­, his mother and sister were brooding over the disgrace which they feared threatened them.  They could have spared all their painful feelings, for she of the “low family” was destined to be another’s.