Year: 1867

Mrs. Hastings, the lsat time seen 'em,
but that's four or five years ago. when
your Aunt Sarah was buried and reck-
on some Of 'em are amOst young women
by this time =


Nathan made no reply to this ques ton
for it was meant for a question, aud Mrs.
Hastings went on directly i remember
your Aunt Mary had bows of Grape on her
mourning bonnet that day, the first time I
had ever seen Grape made into bows, and
it looked strange, very purity though.
Your aunt is gay woman for her years,
isn't sEe!


Nathan says he doesn't know 60 much
about that; town folks always seem gay to
country folks, he believes but he does know
that she is a good housekeepcr.


I dare say Mrs. Hastings replies
with admiring emphasis; and then she
asks if the girls take after her.


oh, you muet see and decide for your
self. but doubt if this one who is out now
knows so much about house work that she
can't learn something of you and Tilly.
By George, what delicious cake =


He was standing up now. and had taken
slice of the pound cake which Mrs. Has.
tings had just put on the table, and was
eating it. Matilda remarked that in speak
ing Of his cousin Nathan seemed less COM
mnnicative than cOmmon-that he said he
believed Lamsie was the oldest, as though
he did not know and again, that instead
Of calling her name he said This one who
who is out now. and somehow she did not
like the sound Of it.


why, > says Mrs. Hastings, pleased to
see him enjoying her cake, I was just 60
ing to ask you and Tilly to take turn
round the garden while the biscuits were
baking but it seems you can't wait!
and then she says she is afraid he is
spoiled boy. and that size shall have to take
him in hand one of these days, for she is
sure no one else can ever manage him
Intending that he shall understand, doubt
less. that she will take him in hand when
he is married. and that Matilda will not
be able to get along with hun in her over
much gentlcncss and sweetness.


But the girl had spirit enough in her own
not likely she was altogether ignorant Of
the fact. Be that as it may, she had 10
fears Of the sort indicated. What she
does fear is that matters are not going quite
as she would have them--hencc all the
found scolding and familiar gayety.


Nathan seemed to hesitate over the sug-
geston of walk in the garden, took out
his watch and looked at it as through he
were not quite sure he had the time to
spare, and, in the end. said in an indiffer-
cut sort of way What do you say. Miss
lilly shall we GO! or shall we not!'


AS you please, Mr.. Nathan She had
not risen as she spoke, nor did she lift her
eyes, and her manner of pronouncing Mr..
Nathan was just the least bit sarcastic.


Then Mr.. Nathan pleascs to co. he Of
fcred his arm with sort of mock gallan.
try that was not just offensive. but. in the
circumstances, certainly not altogether
agreeable. She arose with more COM
pliancc than pleasure in her manner, and
they went out together.


Mind you don't forget yourselves and
walk too tar!' Mrs Hastings calls after
them.


Trust me for that y replied Nathan aud
he laughed as though nothing were more
enlikcly.


Matilda was still further offended, and
became severely grave. Nathan seemed
not to observe the gravity, bu, Chartered
on about this and that. never once lower.
ing his tone or touching even the tips of
her fingers. Indeed he walked now before
her and now behind her, taken up appar.
unity US much with the snnflowcIs as with
herself.


why don't you say something p he in
quired, after while, standing suddenly
before her.


because have nothing special to say
she replied. endeavoring to pass along.


lie spread wide his arms. and thcn she
turned aud walked the other way.


lie came after her now. saying petulant-
iy. Il didn't ask yu, to say any thing spec
lal,' and then he pulled out his watch
again. 1t was not the silver one his fa-
ther had given him when he came of age.
as Matilda observed, but o shining new one
70 gold. with glittering chain attached
that was almost as large as her little finger,
and set Oft by seals and charms without
number. She observed all this in silence:
another time she would have taken it in
her hand, and pleased herself as we'll as
him by adniring and praising it As mat
ters stood she was not in the humOr.


They walked down the path nearly the
whole length Of the garden without speak
ing, and ut last Nathan made some forced
remark about the flower borders-that
were bloming with unusual brightness
What charm did Matilda exercise upon
them p


Poor common culture-that was all
she had no charm =


Then he said as though he had not heard
her self-dcprcciation 1T is no wonder
they bloom, with such hands to tend
them.


Aud then he did take her hand. She
drew it away the next moment, for she
felt as ii she had in some sort solicited
h,s to lderer nolicc, saying, she only wish.
cd every thing she had loved had repaid
her AS we'll as her flowers.


-.Nonsense, Tiily' What puts such
sentimental stuff in your head! Has some
one Of your admirers been reading Byron
to yOul


And he put his arm around her waist
and made playful attempt to kiss her
1t was not the deed but the manner OF it
that caused cheek and brow to flash with
so sudden and reproachtul rcd. and her
ewes to lower themselves so haughtily.


BEG your pardon, Miss Hastings says
Nathan Il will not offend in that way
again. And he fell to cutting off the
heads Of the hollyhocks with his riding
whip.


Ii he had fingered beside her single
moment--if his apoligy had been less Oft
hand. and if lie had not gone slashing at
the hollyhocks rs he did, she would doubt
loss have made some concession /; but as
it was. she could not get her own consent.