At that instant, with that tart speech, Mrs. Hiller reached land and beached her boat.

The three girls did not return home from the party to which they had gone until twelve o'clock. The rain had not touched them in the close coach their father always hired for them on such occasions. Tossing off their wrappings as they ran, they trooped into their mother's sitting-room, adjoining her chamber, where she awaited them.

"With such a superlugious home-sy fire! bright and warm as her own heart," chattered Blanche, the youngest, rushing forward to throw herself on the rug at her mother's knee. "And a heavenly cup of tea! I enter now into the full comprehension of the reason why it is called the celestial herb," sniffing the air. "There never was, there never will be, there never could be, such another mamma."

"You are right there!" cried the others, kissing her less noisily, but as fondly, as did the madcap of the flock.

Any mother might be proud of the trio, clustered about her, sipping the tea they declared to be more delicious than all the delicacies of the supper table; talking as fast as their nimble tongues could move of what they had done, and seen, and heard, since she had superintended their toilets, four hours before. That the understanding between her and them was perfect, hearty, and joyous, was plain.

Emma, the eldest, was twenty-one, tall, shapely, with a complexion and gait that bespoke healthy nervous organization, a sound mind and judgment. Her excellent sense and happy temper made her a safe counsellor, as well as agreeable companion, for her more volatile sisters. She dressed tastefully, as did they all; moved with composed grace through a systematic round of daily duties; was her father's pride, the mother's helper, and not a whit less popular in her circle than if she had been both wit and beauty, whereas she was neither.

Imogen was far handsomer, a decided blonde, while Emma had gray eyes and dark hair. The second daughter liked to set off her fairness by all justifiable and lady-like appliances of art and fashion, and knew how to do it. She was never florid or conspicuous in appearance, yet never en deshabille in the simplest attire. Her clothes became a part of her so soon as she put them on. A few touches of her deft fingers brought fitness out of disorder; added the nameless, inestimable air we term "style," for the want of a fitter word, to whatever she touched or wore. A very busy bee she was in her way, with a mania for renovating her own paraphernalia and that of everybody else who would allow her the privilege; giving to the parlors, which were her especial charge, a new aspect every clay by the variety of her elegant devices.

Blanche - eighteen and just "out," was petite in figure, with light, fluffy hair, dancing blue eyes and small white teeth that somehow made more arch her merry smile. She was the pet and the mischief-maker of the household, affectionate and frolicsome, with innumerable tricksy, yet dainty ways that belonged only to herself; quick of wit and fearless of tongue, and facile in hand as Imogen, her room-mate and confederate in all her schemes of pleasure or work.

"Emma lays the foundation; Imogen builds thereupon. Mine is the ornamental department - the glossing over and decking, after the scaffold is down," she had once said.

The mother recalled it, now, watching them as with unsealed eves, and was confirmed in the resolutions which were the fruit of her evening's musings.

"Away to bed, magpies!" she said, at length, "I won't hear a word more! You are warmed and refreshed now. And unless you go soon, you will not be down in season to recount your adventures and conquests to papa at breakfast. He considers himself an ill-used person when he has to go off without getting the evening's report. Moreover,.I want you to have your brains steady and clear, for I must have a long business talk with you to-morrow forenoon."

"Business! that sounds portentous," said Imogen, in affected consternation.

"It sounds entrancing!" commented Blanche. It savoreth of new dresses, and, perchance, jewelry - per-adventure, though that is a bold flight of fancy, of a trip across the sea next summer."

"Nothing has gone wrong, I hope, mother?" queried Emma.

"Nothing at all, my dear Lady Thoughtful," was the smiling reply.

"Dear Lady Owl, you mean!" cried saucy Blanche, and she went off singing : " And what says the old gray owl ? To who ? To who ?"

"Happy children!" Mrs. Hiller heaved a confidential sigh to the fire that had shone on the young faces a moment ago. "Will what I have to tell them make them less happy or gay ? Is mine, after all, the needless croak of the owl instead of a wise warning?"

The thought pierced her again, next day, when they met in her boudoir, eager and curious, their eyes and cheeks unmarred by the moderate dissipation of the preceding night. But she stood fast to her purpose; unfolded her scheme in bulk and detail, with the assured tone of one who had considered the cost to the last farthing. She was not accounted an eccentric woman by her acquaintances, but her proposal was novel, and, to her listeners, startling. Their days of school-study were over, she reminded them. It was time that upon the foundation of general information thus laid should be erected the superstructure of a profession.

"A specialty, if you prefer the word," she said; "since I earnestly hope you will not be called upon to practice it for a livelihood. While papa's strength and health last, he finds no more delightful use for his earnings than to purchase comfort and luxury for us. Were he to die, or to be unfortunate in business, or become incurably diseased - and such things are of almost daily occurrence - our style of living would be at once and entirely altered. You would be driven to the study of small, minute economies and false appearances, such as must rasp and narrow the souls of those who resort to them ; to escape these by a marriage of convenience, or the lucky accident of a love-match, or to engage, in earnest, in some business that would, thanks to your previous training, continue to you the elegancies, with the decencies of life."