eow?" urged the old lady, more persistently.

"Damn it, nothing, Madam!"

And the old lady drew the strings of her bag closely, and looked full
out of the opposite window.

Within, a half-hour the stage-coach arrived at the Eagle Tavern.
Maverick demanded a chamber, and asked to see the landlord. The stout,
blear-eyed Boody presently made his appearance.

"How can I reach New York soonest, my friend?"

Mr. Boody consulted his watch.

"Well, by fast driving you might catch the night-boat on the river."

"Can you get me there in time?"

"Well, Sir," reflecting a moment, "I guess I can."

"Very good. Have your carriage ready as soon as possible."

And within an hour, Maverick, dejected, and with an anxious air, was on
his return to the city.

Three days after, the Doctor summons Adele into his study.

"Adaly, here is a letter from your father, which I wish you to read."

The girl takes it eagerly, and at the first line exclaims,--

"He is in New York! Why doesn't he come here?"

* * * * *

"MY DEAR JOHNS," (so his letter runs,) "I had counted on surprising you
completely by dropping in upon you at your parsonage, (so often in my
thought,) at Ashfield; but circumstances have prevented. Can I ask so
large a favor of you as to bring my dear Adele to meet me here? If your
parochial duties forbid this utterly, can you not see her safely on the
river-boat, and I will meet her at the wharf in New York? But, above
all, I hope you will come with her. I fancy her now so accomplished a
young lady, that there will be needed some ceremony of presentation at
your hands; besides which, I want a long talk with you. We are both many
years older since we have met; you have had your trials, and I have
escaped with only a few rubs. Let us talk them over. Slip away quietly,
if you can; beyond Adele and your good sister, can't you conceal your
errand to the city? Your country villages are so prone to gossip, that I
would wish to clasp my little Adele before your townsfolk shall have
talked the matter over. Pray ask your good sister to prepare the
wardrobe of Adele for a month or two of absence, since I mean she shall
be my attendant on a little jaunt through the country. I long to greet
her; and your grave face, my dear Johns, is always a welcome sight."

* * * * *

Adele is in a fever of excitement. In her happy glee she would have gone
out to tell all the villa