a woman; but when it comes to a dish o' maccaroni, I ain't afeard of
their shefs, as they call 'em,--them he-cooks that can't serve up a cold
potater without callin' it by some name nobody can say after 'em. But
this gentleman knows good cookin', and that's as good a sign of a
gentleman as I want to tell 'em by."

VI

STILL AT FAULT.

The house in which Maurice Kirkwood had taken up his abode was not a very
inviting one. It was old, and had been left in a somewhat dilapidated
and disorderly condition by the tenants who had lived in the part which
Maurice now occupied. They had piled their packing-boxes in the cellar,
with broken chairs, broken china, and other household wrecks. A cracked
mirror lay on an old straw mattress, the contents of which were airing
themselves through wide rips and rents. A lame clothes-horse was saddled
with an old rug fringed with a ragged border, out of which all the colors
had been completely trodden. No woman would have gone into a house in
such a condition. But the young man did not trouble himself much about
such matters, and was satisfied when the rooms which were to be occupied
by himself and his servant were made decent and tolerably comfortable.
During the fine season all this was not of much consequence, and if
Maurice made up his mind to stay through the winter he would have his
choice among many more eligible places.

The summer vacation of the Corinna Institute had now arrived, and the
young ladies had scattered to their homes. Among the graduates of the
year were Miss Euthymia Tower and Miss Lurida Vincent, who had now
returned to their homes in Arrowhead Village. They were both glad to
rest after the long final examinations and the exercises of the closing
day, in which each of them had borne a conspicuous part. It was a
pleasant life they led in the village, which was lively enough at this
season. Walking, riding, driving, boating, visits to the Library,
meetings of the Pansophian Society, hops, and picnics made the time pass
very cheerfully, and soon showed their restoring influences. The
Terror's large eyes did not wear the dull, glazed look by which they had
too often betrayed the after effects of over-excitement of the strong and
active brain behind them. The Wonder gained a fresher bloom, and looked
full enough of life to radiate vitality into a statue of ice. They had a
boat of their own, in which they passed many delightful hours on the
lake, rowing, drifting