rst ride in the park. The horses have been bought, and much to Cousin
Ona's satisfaction, the groom has been hired."

* * * * *

"I was told something the other day, of a nature so unpleasant that I
should not think of repeating it, if you had not expressly commanded me
to confide to you everything that for any reason produced an effect upon
me in my new home. My informant was Sarah, the somewhat gossiping woman
whom Ona has about her as seamstress and maid. She said--and she had
spoken before I could prevent her--that the way Mrs. Sylvester took on
about her mourning at the time of little Geraldine's death was enough to
wear out the patience of Job. She even went so far as to tell the
dressmaker that if she could not have her dress made to suit her she
would not put on mourning at all! Aunty, can you wonder that Mr.
Sylvester looks so bitterly sombre whenever mention is made of his
child? He loved it, and its own mother could worry over the fit of a
dress while his bereaved heart was breaking! I confess I can never feel
the same indulgence towards what I considered the idiosyncrasies of a
fashionable beauty again. Her smooth white skin makes me tremble; it has
never flushed with delight over the innocent smiles of her firstborn."

* * * * *

"Mr. Sylvester is very polite to Cousin Ona and seems to yield to her
wishes in everything. But if I were she I think my heart would break
over that very politeness. But then she is one who demands formality
even from the persons of her household. I have never seen him stoop for
a kiss or beheld her even so much as lay her hand on his shoulder. But I
have observed him wait on her at moments when he was pale from weariness
and she flushed with long twilight reclinings before her sleepy boudoir
fire."

* * * * *

"There are times when I would not exchange my present opportunities for
any others which might be afforded me. General ---- dined here to-day,
and what a vision of a great struggle was raised up before me by his few
simple words in regard to Gettysburg. I did not know which to admire
most, the military bearing and vivid conversation of the great soldier,
or the ease and dignity with which Mr. Sylvester met his remarks and
answered each glowing sentence. General ---- spoke a few words to me.
How gentle these lion-like men can be when they stoop their tall heads
to address little