r. Thunder! is dinner ready,
Thisbe?"

"Yes, massa, and a waitin' mighty long time too."

"Well, as I was saying, you must see your cousins, Jack, Josephine and
Susette. Our oldest daughter is over to Mobile for a few weeks. Pheny is
about your age, and you'll be great friends, no doubt; that is, if you
can romp and flop about pretty smart; but I must go for your aunt."

Here an exclamation of "Mercy, mercy!" called the esquire's attention,
and he beheld his amiable consort sinking aghast, with uplifted hands on
a sofa in the hall. "Law, Nabby, what's the matter now?" said he, going
toward her leisurely enough, as though he were accustomed to such
scenes.

"O, Adolphus Camford! what wench is that you have been sitting beside on
my embroidered ottoman? Answer me quick, for the love of Heaven! I will
not say for the love you bear me, as it is evident by your conduct that
you have ceased to regard me with a spice of affection," exclaimed the
fair lady, in a tone of trembling excitement.

"Good, now, Nabby, good! A scene enacted on the arrival of our little
up-country cousin, Ally Orville;" and the esquire roared with laughter.
Alice heard all, and wondered what she had come among.

The lady, nothing appeased by this explanation, as soon as she had taken
breath, burst forth again. "And you dared take the girl, in her dirty,
disordered travelling garb, into the drawing-room! Adolphus Camford, I'm
horrified beyond expression! Here, Thisbe, run and bundle the thing off
to her room before any one sees her. And to come just at our fashionable
dinner-hour too!"

"Fuss and feathers, is that the child's fault? She came when the boat
did, of course. I was down there after my freight, and found her; she
seemed a mighty favorite with all on board, I assure you, and a handsome
young fellow rode up in the carriage with us, to mark her residence,
that he might call on her."

"Yes, and our house will be overrun by hoosiers, and all sorts of
gawkins, no doubt. But take this girl out of sight, Thisbe. You can
carry some dinner to her room if she wishes any."

"Thunder and Mars! She is your own brother's child; ain't you going to
let her come to the table with the family?"

"Perhaps so, at a proper time. When I have seen her, and considered
whether she is a suitable personage for my jewel daughters to have for a
companion."

"Why, didn't she come here more by your invitation than mine? for she
was well enough off at home, but,