cts of motherhood, stole quietly aside, and did the very rude
thing of taking up a book and beginning to read "in company." But, as
before stated, Miss Agatha had a will of her own, which she usually
followed out, even when it ran a little contrary to the ultra-refined
laws of propriety.

The book not being sufficiently interesting, she was beginning, like
many another clever girl of nineteen, to think the society of married
ladies a great bore, and to wonder when the gentlemen would come
up-stairs'. Her wish was shortly gratified by the door's opening--but
only to admit the "youth" Nathanael.

However, partly for civility, and partly through lack of entertainment,
Agatha smiled upon even him, and tried to make him talk.

This was not an easy matter, since in all qualities he seemed to be
his elder brother's opposite. Indeed, his reserve and brevity of speech
emulated Agatha's own; so they got on together ill enough, until by some
happy chance they lighted on the subject of Canada and the Backwoods.
Where is there boy or girl of romantic imagination who did not, at
some juvenile period of existence, revel in descriptions of American
forest-life? Agatha had scarcely passed this, the latest of her various
manias; and on the strength of it, she and Mr. Harper became more
sociable. She even condescended to declare "that it was a pleasure to
meet with one who had absolutely seen, nay, lived among red Indians.'"

"Ay, and nearly died among them too," added Major Harper, coming up so
unexpectedly that Agatha had not noticed him. "Tell Miss Bowen how you
were captured, tied to the stake, half-tomahawked, etc.--how you lived
Indian fashion for a whole year, when you were sixteen. Wonderful lad! A
second Nathaniel Bumppo!" added he, tapping his brother's shoulder.

The young man drew back, merely answered "that the story would not
interest Miss Bowen," and retired, whether out of pride or shyness it
was impossible to say.

The conversation, taken up and led, as usual, by Major Harper, became
a general disquisition on the race of North American Indians.
Accidentally, or not, the elder brother drew from the younger many
facts, indicating a degree of both information and experience which
made every one glance with surprise, respect, and a little awe, on the
delicate, boyish-looking Nathanael.

Once, too, Agatha took her turn as an object of interest to the rest
They were all talking of the distinctive personal features of tha