Stephen went on, beginning to be half-angry with this little, unknown woman from Cape Cod, who looked with the contemptuous glance of a princess upon the house in which he and his mother dwelt,-- "You are quite at liberty to throw up your lease, Mrs.Philbrick, if you choose.

It was, perhaps, hardly fair to have let you hire the house without seeing it." Mercy started.

"I beg your pardon, Mr.White.I should not think of such a thing as giving up the lease.

I am very sorry you saw how ugly I think the house.

I do think it is the very ugliest house I ever saw," she continued, speaking with emphatic deliberation; "but, then, I have not seen many houses.