Little did Fanny dream how closely the “New Orleans pill bags” were to be connected with the rest of her life.  Julia said nothing but probably thought more.

When the young ladies entered the breakfast room next morning they noticed seated opposite them a tall, dark, handsome young man, whom Mrs. Carrington introduced to them as Dr. Lacey.  There was something remarkably pleasing in his manner, and before breakfast was over he had completely won Fanny’s good opinion by kindly breaking her egg for her, and when she had the misfortune to drop the fork, he drew the attention of the company from her by relating an anecdote on himself, which was that he was once invited to a dinner party at the Hon. Henry Clay’s, and as he was trying to be very graceful and polite, he unfortunately upset his plate, the contents of which, together with his knife and fork, were deposited in his lap.  This story raised such a laugh that all forgot Fanny, who gave Dr. Lacey such a look of gratitude that after breakfast he asked Mrs. Crane who the pale, blue-eyed girl was, and received about the same information that Mrs. Carrington had received concerning her.

That day Mr. Wilmot’s eyes were not as handsome nor his teeth as white as usual in the estimation of Julia, who often found herself wondering why he did not wear whiskers.  That evening he called at Mrs. Crane’s and for the first time in her life Julia was not much pleased to see him.  He, however, rose ten per cent in her estimation when she saw the familiar and cordial manner with which Dr. Lacey treated him.  They talked as though they were old and dear friends.

After Mr. Wilmot had left, Dr. Lacey said, “Why, that Wilmot is a remarkably intelligent man and very agreeable.”

Then turning to Mrs. Carrington, he added, “Let me see—­is he a teacher?”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Carrington, “and these young ladies are his pupils, and report says he looks after the heart of one of them as well as the head.”

“Well,” continued he, “whichever one is favored with his preference should feel honored, for he is a capital fellow.”  Just then his eye fell upon an elegant piano which stood in the room and he asked Mrs. Carrington to favor him with some music.

“Perhaps Miss Middleton will oblige you,” said Mrs. Carrington, looking at Julia.

“Thank you,” said Julia, “I am just taking lessons,” so Mrs. Carrington sat down to the instrument, and as Julia saw how skillfully her white, jewelled fingers touched the keys, she resolved to spare no pains to become as fine a player as Mrs. Carrington, particularly as she saw that Dr. Lacey was very fond of music and kept calling for piece after piece till the evening was somewhat advanced.

“You ought to play, golden locks,” said he to Fanny, at the same time taking one of her long yellow curls in his hand.

“I am taking lessons,” said Fanny, “but I make awkward work, for my fingers are all thumbs, as you might know by my dropping that four-tined pitchfork this morning!”