when he first
came here, but I forgot all about it, and when we were at Mount
Holyoke, I never suspected that you were the little girl he used to
talk so much about. But a few days before he went away he reminded me
of it again, and then I understood why he was so much interested in
you. I wonder you never told me you knew him, for of course you like
him. You can't help it."

Mary only heard a part of what Ida said. "Just before he went away.--"
Was he then gone, and should she not see him after all? A cloud
gathered upon her brow, and Ida readily divining its cause, replied,
"Yes, George is gone. Either he or father must go to New Orleans, and
so George of course went. Isn't it too bad? I cried and fretted, but
he only pulled my ears, and said he should think I'd be glad for he
knew we wouldn't want a great six-footer domineering over us, and
following us every where, as he would surely do were he at home."

Mary felt more disappointed than she was willing to acknowledge, and
for a moment she half wished herself back in Chicopee, but soon
recovering her equanimity, she ventured to ask how long George was to
be gone.

"Until April, I believe," said Ida; "but any way you are to stay until
he comes, for Aunt Martha promised to keep you. I don't know exactly
what George said to her about you, but they talked together more than
two hours, and she says you are to take music lessons and drawing
lessons, and all that. George is very fond of music."

Here thinking she was telling too much, Ida suddenly stopped, and as
the tea bell just then rang, she started up, saying, "Oh, I forgot
that father was waiting in the parlor to see you. I've said so much
about you that his curiosity is quite roused, but I can introduce you
at the table just as well." Our lady readers will pardon Mary if
before meeting Mr. Selden she gave herself a slight inspection in the
long mirror, which hung in her dressing room. Passing the brush
several times through her glossy hair, and smoothing down the folds of
her neatly fitting merino, she concluded that she looked well enough
for a traveller, and with slightly heightened color, followed Ida into
the supper room, where she found assembled Mrs. Mason, Aunt Martha,
and Mr. Selden. The moment her eye fell upon the latter, she
recognized the same kindly beaming eye and pleasant smile, which had
won her childish heart, when on board the Windermere he patted her
head, as George told how kind she had bee