Page:The Author of Beltraffio, Pandora, Georgina's Reasons, The Path of Duty, Four Meetings (Boston, James R. Osgood & Co., 1885).djvu/156

152 with having rather neglected her during an entertainment for which he was indebted to her bounty, and he sought to repair his omission by a little friendly talk. But the only thing he could think of to say to her was to ask her by chance whether Miss Day were, to her knowledge, engaged.

Mrs. Steuben turned her Southern eyes upon him with a look of almost romantic compassion. "To my knowledge? Why, of course I 'd know! I should think you 'd know, too. Did n't you know she was engaged? Why, she's been engaged since she was sixteen."

Vogelstein stared at the dome of the Capitol. "To a gentleman from Utica?"

"Yes, a native of her place. She is expecting him soon."

"Oh, I 'm so glad to hear it," said Vogelstein, who, decidedly, for his career, had promise. "And is she going to marry him?"

"Why, what do people get engaged for? I presume they will marry before long."

"But why have they never done so in so many years?"

"Well, at first she was too young, and then she thought her family ought to see Europe,—of course they could see it better with her,—and they spent some time there. And then Mr. Bellamy had some business difficulties which made him feel as if he did n't want to marry just then. But he has given up business, and I presume he feels more free. Of