But before he answers Kate’s question, we will introduce him to our readers.  Frank Cameron was a cousin of Kate Wilmot.  His father, who was a lawyer by profession, had amassed a large fortune, on the interest of which he was now living in elegant style in the city of New York.  Frank, who was the eldest child, had chosen the profession of his father, contrary to the wishes of his proud lady mother, who looked upon all professions as too plebeian to suit her ideas of gentility.  This aristocratic lady had forgotten the time when, with blue cotton umbrella and thick India rubbers, she had plodded through the mud and water of the streets in Albany, giving music lessons for her own and widowed mother’s maintenance.  One of her pupils was Kate Wilmot’s mother, Lucy Cameron.  While giving lessons to her she first met Lucy’s brother, Arthur Cameron, who afterward became her husband.  He was attracted by her extreme beauty and his admiration was increased on learning her praiseworthy efforts to maintain herself and mother.  They were married, and with increasing years came increasing wealth, until at length Mr. Cameron was a millionaire and retired from business.

As riches increased, so did Mrs. Cameron’s proud spirit, until she came to look upon herself as somewhat above the common order of her fellow-beings.  She endeavored to instil her ideas of exclusiveness into the minds of her children.  With her daughter Gertrude, she succeeded admirably, and by the time that young lady had reached her eighteenth year, she fancied herself a kind of queen to whom all must pay homage.  But Frank the poor mother found perfectly incorrigible.  He was too much like his father to think himself better than his neighbor on account of his wealth.  Poor Mrs. Cameron had long given him up, only asking as a favor that he would not disgrace his family by marrying the washerwoman’s daughter.  Frank promised he would not, unless perchance he should fall in love with her, “And then,” said he, with a wicked twinkle of his handsome hazel eyes, “then, my dear Mrs. Cameron, I cannot be answerable for consequences.”

He had always greatly admired his cousin Kate, and often horrified his mother by declaring that if Kate were not his cousin, he would surely marry her.  “Thank the Lord, then, that she is so near a relative!  For now you will not stoop to marry a music teacher,” said Mrs. Cameron.

The old roguish expression danced in Frank’s eye, as he said, “Most noble mother Adelaide, will you tell me whether it wrenched father’s back much when he stooped to a music teacher?”

The highly indignant lady was silent, for Frank had a way of reminding her of the past, which she did not quite relish; so she let him alone, secretly praying that he would not make a fool of himself in his choice of a wife.  He bade her be easy on that point, for ’twasn’t likely he would ever marry, for he probably would never find a wife who would suit him.