ich the minister suddenly spoke at the dinner-table, and
said,--

'By-the-by, I've got a letter in my pocket. Reach me my coat here,
Phillis.' The weather was still sultry, and for coolness and ease the
minister was sitting in his shirt-sleeves. 'I went to Heathbridge about
the paper they had sent me, which spoils all the pens--and I called at
the post-office, and found a letter for me, unpaid,--and they did not
like to trust it to old Zekiel. Ay! here it is! Now we shall hear news
of Holdsworth,--I thought I'd keep it till we were all together.' My
heart seemed to stop beating, and I hung my head over my plate, not
daring to look up. What would come of it now? What was Phillis doing?
How was she looking? A moment of suspense,--and then he spoke again.
'Why! what's this? Here are two visiting tickets with his name on, no
writing at all. No! it's not his name on both. MRS Holdsworth! The
young man has gone and got married.' I lifted my head at these words; I
could not help looking just for one instant at Phillis. It seemed to me
as if she had been keeping watch over my face and ways. Her face was
brilliantly flushed; her eyes were dry and glittering; but she did not
speak; her lips were set together almost as if she was pinching them
tight to prevent words or sounds coming out. Cousin Holman's face
expressed surprise and interest.

'Well!' said she, 'who'd ha' thought it! He's made quick work of his
wooing and wedding. I'm sure I wish him happy. Let me see'--counting on
her fingers,--'October, November, December, January, February, March,
April, May, June, July,--at least we're at the 28th,--it is nearly ten
months after all, and reckon a month each way off--'

'Did you know of this news before?' said the minister, turning sharp
round on me, surprised, I suppose, at my silence,--hardly suspicious,
as yet.

'I knew--I had heard--something. It is to a French Canadian young
lady,' I went on, forcing myself to talk. 'Her name is Ventadour.'

'Lucille Ventadour!' said Phillis, in a sharp voice, out of tune.

'Then you knew too!' exclaimed the minister. We both spoke at once. I
said, 'I heard of the probability of--and told Phillis.' She said, 'He
is married to Lucille Ventadour, of French descent; one of a large
family near St. Meurice; am not I right?' I nodded 'Paul told me,--that
is all we know, is not it? Did you see the Howsons, father, in
Heathbridge?' and she forced herself to talk more than she had done for
sev