mised to
do, into a remarkable beauty. If she had kept on as she had begun, she
would have become one of those exuberant beauties who look as if they
had but lately quitted the stage and must shortly return thither. Even
yet, it would have taken but an error in dress, a reversion to a certain
type of manner which too often goes with looks like these, to make of
the girl that which it had seemed she must become. But, somehow, she had
not become that thing.

Rhodora presently turned and beckoned to the Preacher, and putting down
his teacups he came to her side. She presented him, and we saw that he
was, indeed, no clergyman, no minister even--in the sense that the
Skeptic had differentiated these terms--but a preacher--and an embryo
one at that--a big, red-cheeked, honest-eyed boy, a straightforward,
clean-hearted, large-purposed young fellow, who meant to do all the good
in the world, in all the ways that he could bring about. He was but
lately graduated from his seminary, had yet to preach his first sermon
after the dignities of his ordination, but--one could not tell how--one
began to believe in him at once.

"No, I haven't a bit of experience," he owned to me, as we stood talking
together, getting acquainted. "Not a bit--except a little mission work a
few of us went in for this last year. I'm as raw a recruit as ever put
on a uniform and fell in with the rest of the company for his first
drill. But--I mean to count one!"

"I'm sure you will," said I, regarding him with growing pleasure in
the sight.

"And Rhodora will count two," said he, his eyes following her. "One and
two, side by side, you know, stand for twelve."

"So they do," said I. "And seeing Rhodora as she looks now, I should
think she would make an efficient comrade."

His face glowed. Together we observed Rhodora, standing close by
Grandmother's side. The two, with Hepatica and our two men, made a
group, of which not the bride-elect, but Grandmother, was the precise
centre. The moment Rhodora had reached Grandmother's side she had put
herself in the background. Although she towered above the little old
lady she did not overwhelm her, and Grandmother herself had never seemed
a more gently dominating figure than now, in her sweeping black gown
with its rare laces, her white hair, in soft puffs, framing her delicate
face. And as, at a turn in the conversation, Grandmother looked up at
Rhodora, and Rhodora, bending a little, smiled back at her, answeri