As I talked, each statement that I made was so convincing to myself that I seemed to come rapidly into possession of facts on the subject hitherto unknown to me.
"I really don't suppose, John, that she has a being to speak to but that old crank of an aunt, with her family trees and malachite ear-rings."
"She has but one of the ear-rings, Dicky."
"Oh! she has got the other one on the brain, which amounts to the same thing," said I, for I had no idea of being so easily put down.
"Go ahead!" said John. "Go ahead! Only I can't help wondering where you learned so much about the family."
"My dear boy," I answered, quite condescendingly, "I am blessed with average intelligence—that is all. Now, here is this poor girl, without a single interest in life, utterly cut off from the great world which is teeming with—"
"Hold on!" cried John. "You seem
