r, with which was mingled a
species of admiration, while the young ladies, who were of course
brought into the consultation, were somehow severally impressed with the
idea that Hiram must be perfectly charming in a private _tete-a-tete_
with mamma and sister out of the room.

Hiram's plan with the ladies was literally to divide and conquer. Mrs.
Hawkins had too much good sense to take matters seriously, but she could
not help being flattered by the assiduous and persevering attentions of
so young and handsome a fellow. In fact, she looked five years younger
herself, after Hiram came to her house. These attentions, however, were
not out of the common course. They were apparently just what it was
eminently proper and polite to render; but we have already explained
that Hiram had a delicate and most insinuating way of giving force and
meaning to them.

Ah! well, after all, we would not intimate that the widow Hawkins, now
forty years of age, ever entertained any other thought toward Hiram than
that he would make a most delightful son-in-law, or if she did
experience feelings which people take for granted belong only to the
young, (people are much mistaken,) it is not for me to betray or expose
them.

But the young ladies, Miss Louisa and Miss Charlotte--here was a more
difficult task, to render equal justice to each. Candidly, however, I
think Hiram accomplished it. Louisa was already one-and-twenty, but she
had glossy dark hair which she wore in curls down her neck, and served
to give her a very youthful appearance. Charlotte, who was nearly two
years younger than her sister, was always taken by strangers to be the
eldest. She was a blonde, and wore her light brown hair plain over her
face. Both these young ladies soon had their private impression that
there were peculiar confidences between them and Hiram. It was the old
story again. Our hero had lost none of his powers of fascination in
removing from Hampton to Burnsville.

You see, reader, how pleasantly Hiram was quartered. I do not suppose
that a thought of Mary Jessup ever entered his brain (to say nothing of
his heart, if he had any) after he came to Mrs. Hawkins's. He attended
to his business devotedly, and never in a single instance sacrificed it
to his pleasure, his comfort, or his inclinations. When it was finished,
he found solace and enjoyment in the society of these ladies, much as he
would enjoy his dinner, though in a higher degree, and with a keener