"If two ladies talk together, Be it fine or rainy weather,
 
Subjects three you'll find they handle--
 
Love, sans diamonds and a carriage,
of a wealthy marriage,
 
Or the latest piece of scandal."
 
 
What do ladies talk about over five o'clock tea when no male is present? Ah, that is one of the mysteries of Bona Dea, the ritual whereof is known to none of the stronger sex. They doubtless discuss fashions--for no woman, however affecting to despise the pomps and vanities of this world, can the raiment of another woman without blaming or praising the same, according to taste or price. Very likely they make remarks about their neighbours, and hint, with nods and mysteriously suggestive that--well, you know what. Nevertheless, men in their clubs do exactly the same thing, and scandal is by no means by ladies. However, the question is: What do they talk about?--and as the of the Bona Dea will not tell us, we must be content to accept ambiguous smiles and tightly-closed lips as answer.
 
On this occasion, however, the subject under discussion was love, and four ladies--two married and two unmarried--were talking together on a very pleasant subject; and the subject was the courting of Tommy Valpy by Toby Clendon.
 
"I must admit," said Mrs. Valpy, in her usual heavy fashion, "that I was astonished when the young man to me."
 
"I wasn't," observed Tommy, with a blush.
 
"Ah," from Mrs. Belswin, "forewarned's forearmed. We all know that."
 
"I'm very pleased to hear about it," said Kaituna, putting her arm around Tommy's waist "Mr. Clendon is most ."
 
"But not so much so as another person," hinted the engaged young lady, with wicked intuition, whereupon Kaituna grew red, and requested another piece of cake.
 
"Love is all very well," said Mrs. Belswin, who was a practical person; "but it won't keep the pot boiling. Now about his income."
 
"Eight hundred a year," declared Tommy, boldly. "We can live on that."
 
"No doubt; but is the eight hundred a year certain?"
 
"Well, three hundred is very certain, because it comes from his father; but the remaining five hundred--well, you know," said Miss Valpy, hopefully, "literature pays so well nowadays, and Toby's in the first flight."
 
"I don't think so much of his literature," observed Mrs. Valpy, stirring her tea. "He may or he may not make the income he says, but the three hundred a year is absolutely certain."
 
"I hope you'll be happy, dear," said Kaituna, . "I, of course, will be bridesmaid."
 
Tommy looked at her friend significantly, and then laughed.
 
"We will be married together," she whispered .
 
"I'm afraid not. Mr. Maxwell has said nothing----"
 
"No? Then he has looked a good deal."
 
Both girls laughed again, and then Mrs. Valpy began to explain her ideas for Tommy's trousseau, which interested every one.
 
The bride-elect and her mother were staying for a few days at Thornstream, and on this evening were going over to dine at the Vicarage in company with Kaituna and Mrs. Belswin.
 
Clendon père was delighted at the choice of his only son, and was giving this dinner in order to welcome his intended daughter-in-law to his family circle of two. Tommy got on very well with the vicar, who liked her and brilliant manner so much that he was actually weaned from his beloved library, and the black-letter folios saw less of their owner than they had done since the time when they had been purchased.
 
Mrs. Valpy was also calmly satisfied with her daughter's engagement, as her intended son-in-law was a very delightful young man, and, moreover, had a rich father, the latter fact being the most important in the good lady's eyes. If he in literature, well, let him do so. It would serve to keep him out of ; but as for any solid benefit from novel-writing or play-scribbling, such an idea never entered Mrs. Valpy's head. All she knew was that Toby was a good son, and would make a good hu............