were less difficult than Brulette (just by way of getting my hand in) had taught me nothing that was proper to say to a high-priced young girl like my cousin. 

 All that I could manage was to hark back to the subject of her favorite, Joseph. At first she laughed; then, little by little, seeing that I was seriously finding fault with him, she became herself serious.  "Let the poor lad alone," she said; "he is much to be pitied." 

 "But why and wherefore? Is he consumptive, or crazy, that you are so afraid of his being meddled with?" 

 "He is worse than that," answered Brulette; "he is an egotist." 

 "Egotist" was one of the curate's words which Brulette had picked up, though it was not used among us in my day. Brulette had a wonderful memory; and that was how she sometimes came out with words which I might have recollected too, only I did not, and consequently I could not understand them. 

 I was too shy to ask her for an explanation and admit my ignorance. Besides, I imagined it was a mortal illness; and I felt that such a great affliction convicted me of injustice. I begged Brulette's pardon for having annoyed her, adding,— 

 "If I had known what you tell me sooner, I shouldn't have felt any bitterness or rancor for the poor fellow." 

 "How came you never to notice it?" she said.  "Don't you see how he makes every one give way to him and oblige him, without ever dreaming of thanking them; how the least neglect affronts him, and the slightest joke angers him; how he sulks and suffers about things nobody else would ever notice; and how one must put one's best self into a friendship with him without his ever comprehending that it is not his due, but an offering made to God of love to our neighbor?" 

 "Is that the effect of illness?" I asked, a little puzzled by Brulette's explanation. 

 "Isn't it the very worst thing he can have in his heart?" she replied. 

 "Does his mother know he has something the matter with his heart?" 

 "She guesses at it; but, you see, I can't talk to her about it for fear of grieving her." 

 "Has no one tried to cure him?" 

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