ent, where the summer sun was
pouring in a perfect blaze of heat, Dr. Richards saw them pass, and
after wondering who they were, and hoping they would be comfortable in
their pen, gave them no further thought, but sat jamming his penknife
into the old worm-eaten table, and thinking savage thoughts against that
capricious lady, Fortune, who had compelled him to come to Saratoga,
where rich wives were supposed to be had for the asking. In Dr.
Richard's vest pocket there lay at this very moment a delicate little
note, the meaning of which was that Alice Johnson declined the honor of
becoming his wife. Now he was ready for the first chance that offered,
provided that chance possessed a certain style, and was tolerably
good-looking.

This, then, was Dr. Richards' errand to Saratoga, and one cause of his
disgust at being banished from the United States, where heiresses were
usually to be found in such abundance.

From his pleasanter, airier apartment, on the other side of the narrow
hall, Irving Stanley looked out through his golden glasses, pitying the
poor ladies condemned to that slow roast.

How hot, and dusty, and cross 'Lina was, and what a look of dismay she
cast around the room, with its two bedsteads, its bureau, its table, its
washstand, and its dozen pegs for her two dozen dresses, to say nothing
of her mother's.

How tired and faint poor Mrs. Worthington was, sinking down upon the
high-post bed! How she wished she had stayed at home, like a sensible
woman, instead of coming here to be made so uncomfortable in this hot
room. But it could not now be helped, 'Lina said; they must do the best
they could; and with a forlorn glance at the luxuriant patch of weeds,
the most prominent view from the window, 'Lina opened one of her trunks,
and spreading a part of its contents upon the bed, began to dress for
dinner. The dinner bell had long since ceased ringing, and the tread of
feet ceased in the halls below ere she descended to the deserted parlor,
followed by her mother, nervous and frightened at the prospect of this,
her first appearance at Saratoga.

"Pray, rouse yourself," 'Lina whispered, "and not let them guess you
were never at a watering place before," and 'Lina thoughtfully smoothed
her mother's cap by way of reassuring her.

But even 'Lina herself quailed when she reached the door and caught a
glimpse of the busy life within, the terrible ordeal she must pass.

"Oh, for a pair of pantaloons to walk besid