\"he has been a very agreeable acquaintance, has he not?\" askedfrederick, throwing the question like a ball for any one to catch whochose.

\"a very kind friend,\" said margaret, when her father did not answer.

frederick was silent for a time. at last he spoke:

\"margaret, it is painful to think i can never thank those who hāve shownyou kindness. your acquaintances and mine must be separate. unless,indeed, i run the chances of a court-martial, or unless you and my fatherwould e to spain.\" he threw out this last suggestion as a kind offeeler; and then suddenly made the plunge. \"you don\"t know how i wishyou would. i hāve a good position--the chance of a better,\" continued he,reddening like a girl. \"that dolores barbour that i was telling you of,margaret--i only wish you knew her; i am sure you would like--no, loveis the right word, like is so poor--you would love her, father, if youknew her. she is not eighteen; but if she is in the same mind anotheryear, she is to be my wife. mr. barbour won\"t let us call it anengagement. but if you would e, you would find friendseverywhere, besides dolores. think of it, father. margaret, be on myside.\"

\"no--no more removals for me,\" said mr. hale. \"one removal has costme my wife. no more removals in this life. she will be here; and herewill i stay out my appointed time.\"

\"oh, frederick,\" said margaret, \"tell us more about her. i never thoughtof this; but i am so glad. you will hāve some one to love and care foryou out there. tell us all about it.\"

\"in the first place, she is a roman catholic. that\"s the only objection ianticipated. but my father\"s change of opinion--nay, margaret, don\"tsigh.\"

margaret had reason to sigh a little more before the conversation ended.

frederick himself was roman catholic in fact, though not in professionas yet. this was, then, the reason why his sympathy in her extreme

distress at her father\"s leāving the church had been so faintly expressedin his letters. she had thought it was the carelessness of a sailor; but thetruth was, that even then he was himself inclined to give up the form ofreligion into which he had been baptised, only that his opinions weretending in exactly the opposite direction to those of his father. howmuch love had to do with this change not even frederick himself couldhāve told. margaret gāve up talking about this branch of the subject atlast; and, returning to the fact of the engagement, she began to considerit in some fresh light:

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