One evening as Fanny, Lida and Gertrude were walking upon the piazza, a servant came, saying that Mrs. Cameron desired to see Miss Middleton in her room.  Fanny immediately obeyed the summons, and as soon as she was gone, Lida laughingly congratulated Gertrude upon the project of having so pleasant a sister.  Gertrude smilingly received Miss Gibson’s congratulations.  “For,” thought she, “even if Fanny does not marry Frank, Miss Gibson will probably never know it, as she is to leave in a few days.”

Let us now with Fanny repair to Mrs. Cameron’s room, but not like her wondering why she was sent for.  We well know why, and consequently are prepared for the look of mingled indignation and astonishment which appeared on Fanny’s face when she learned that Mrs. Cameron was pleading the cause of her son!  Fanny answered, “Madam, I have always entertained the highest respect for your son, but I must confess it is lessened if it is with his knowledge you are speaking to me.”

Mrs. Cameron, who had at first intimated that it was Frank’s request that she should thus intercede for him, now saw her mistake, and veering about, declared what was indeed true, that Frank was wholly ignorant of the whole.  Then followed a long, eloquent speech, in which Mrs. Cameron by turns tried to coax, flatter, importune, or frighten Fanny into a compliance with her wishes, but Fanny could only repeat her first answer.  “I cannot, Mrs. Cameron, I cannot marry Frank.  I acknowledge that I like him, but only as I would love a brother.  Further remonstrance is useless, for I shall never marry him.”

“And why not?” asked Mrs. Cameron.  “Do you love another?  Are you engaged to another?”

“I cannot answer these questions,” said Fanny.  “Frank knows my reason and has my permission to give it to you.”  Then rising, she added, “I suppose our conference is now ended, and with your leave I will retire.”

Mrs. Cameron nodded her head in assent, and Fanny immediately left the room.  A moment after she quitted the apartment, Gertrude entered, all impatient to know her mother’s success.

“Baffled, baffled,” was Mrs. Cameron’s reply to her interrogatories.  “I can do nothing with her.  She is as stubborn as a mule, and we shall either have to conjure up for some reason why the engagement was broken off, or else run the risk of being well laughed at among our circle in New York.”

A few days after this, Lida Gibson started for the South, promising Fanny that she would see Julia as soon as possible after her return home.  Ere long Mrs. Cameron too was seized with a desire to return to the city.  The remainder of the party made no objections, and accordingly Mr. and Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Cameron, Frank and Gertrude were soon in New York.

Soon after their return, Mrs. Cameron said, in speaking of Fanny, “that ’twas quite doubtful whether Frank would marry her or not.  She was so young, and had, too, so many suitors in Kentucky that she probably would soon forget him, and for her part she was pleased to have it so!”