, and the day following my visit to Mr.
Gilbert's I was sent by mother to take her some work. I found her in
the little porch, her white cap-border falling over her placid face,
and her wide checked apron coming nearly to the bottom of her dress.
Mabel was there, too, and as she arose to receive me something about
her reminded me of Adaline Gilbert. I could not tell what it was, for
Mabel was very beautiful, and beside her Adaline would be plain; still
there was a resemblance, either in voice or manner, and this it was,
perhaps, which made me so soon mention the Gilberts and my visit to
them the day previous.

Instantly Mrs. Hudson and Mabel exchanged glances, and I thought the
face of the former grew a shade paler; still I may have been mistaken,
for in her usual tone of voice she began to ask me numberless
questions concerning the family, which seemed singular, as she was not
remarkable for curiosity. But it suited me. I loved to talk then not
less than I do now, and in a few minutes I had told all I knew--and
more, too, most likely.

At last Mrs. Hudson asked about Mr. Gilbert, and how I liked him.

"Not a bit," said I. "He's the hatefulest, crossest, big-feelingest
man I ever saw, and Adaline is just like him!"

Had I been a little older I might, perhaps, have wondered at the
crimson flush which my hasty words brought to Mrs. Hudson's cheek, but
I did not notice it then, and thinking she was, of course, highly
entertained, I continued to talk about Mr. Gilbert and Adaline, in the
last of whom Mabel seemed the most interested. Of Nellie I spoke with
the utmost affection, and when Mrs. Hudson expressed a wish to see
her, I promised, if possible, to bring her there; then as I had
already outstayed the time for which permission had been given, I tied
on my sunbonnet and started for home, revolving the ways and means by
which I should keep my promise.

This proved to be a very easy matter; for within a few days Nellie
came to return my visit, and as mother had other company she the more
readily gave us permission to go where we pleased. Nellie had a
perfect passion for ghost and witch stories, saying though that "she
never liked to have them explained--she'd rather they'd be left in
solemn mystery;" so when I told her of the "old mine" and the "haunted
house" she immediately expressed a desire to see them. Hiding our
bonnets under our aprons the better to conceal our intentions from
sister Lizzie, who, we fancied,