Cousin Maude

The next morning when Maude as usual went down to superintend the

breakfast, she was surprised to hear from Hannah that Mrs. Kelsey

was going that day to Rochester, and that Nellie was to accompany

her.

"Nobody can 'cuse me," said Hannah, "of not 'fillin' Scriptur'

oncet, whar it says `them as has ears to hear, let 'em hear,' for I

did hear 'em a-talkin' last night of you and Mr. De Vere, and I tell

you they're ravin' mad to think you'd cotched him; but I'm glad

on't. You desarves him, if anybody. I suppose that t'other chap aint

none of your marryin' sort," and unconscious of the twinge her last

words had inflicted Hannah carried the coffee-urn to the dining

room, followed by Maude, who was greeted with dark faces and

frowning looks.

Scarcely a word was spoken during breakfast, and when after it was

over Maude offered to assist Nellie in packing her trunks, the

latter answered decisively, "You've done enough, I think."

A few moments afterward J.C.'s voice was heard upon the stairs. He

had come over to see the "lioness and her cub," as he styled Mrs.

Kelsey and her niece, whose coolness was amply atoned for by the

bright, joyous glance of Maude, to whom he whispered softly, "Won't

we have glorious times when they are gone!"

Their projected departure pleased him greatly, and he was so very

polite and attentive that Nellie relented a little, and asked how

long he intended remaining at Laurel Hill, while even Mrs. Kelsey

gave him her hand at parting, and said, "Whenever you recover from

your unaccountable fancy I shall be glad to see you."

"You'll wait some time, if you wait for that," muttered J.C., as he

returned to the house in quest of Maude, with whom he had a long and

most delightful interview, for old Hannah, in unusually, good

spirits, expressed her willingness to see to everything, saying to

her young mistress, "You go along now and court a spell. I reckon I

haint done forgot how I and Crockett sot on the fence in old

Virginny and heard the bobolinks a-singin'."

Old Hannah was waxing sentimental, and with a heightened bloom upon

her cheeks Maude left her to her memories of Crockett and the

bobolinks, while she went back to her lover. J.C. was well skilled

in the little, delicate acts which tend to win and keep a woman's

heart, and in listening to his protestations of love Maude forgot

all else, and abandoned herself to the belief that she was perfectly

happy. Only once did her pulses quicken as they would not have done

had her chosen husband been all that she could wish, and that was

when he said to her, "I wrote to James last night, telling him of my

engagement. He will congratulate me, I know, for he was greatly

pleased with you."