Management, however, was everything, and fancying she had found
the shortest avenue to Mr. Hastings's heart, she, in his presence,
fondled, and petted and played with his child, taking care
occasionally to hint of neglect on the part of Dora, whom he now
seldom saw as, at the hour of his calling, she was generally in
school. It was by such means as this that Eugenia sought to
increase Mr. Hastings's regard for herself, and in a measure she
succeeded; for though his respect for Dora was undiminished, he
could not conceal from himself the fact that Eugenia was very
agreeable, very interesting and very _kind to his daughter_!
As the autumn advanced, and the cold rainy weather precluded out-
door exercise, it was but natural that he should spend much of his
time at Locust Grove, where his tastes were carefully studied, his
favorite books read, and his favorite authors discussed, while
Eugenia's handsome black eyes smiled a welcome when he came, and
drooped pensively beneath her long eyelashes when he went away.
Thus the autumn and the winter passed, and when the spring had
come, the village of Dunwood was rife with rumors concerning the
attraction which drew Mr.
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