ificant glances over
Belle's shoulder; but Mr. Bruce did not observe either of them; and they
heard him say, as he handed Gertrude a small parcel he had been carrying
for her, "I believe I won't come in; it's such a bore to have to talk to
strangers. Do you work in the garden, mornings, this summer?"

"No," replied Gertrude, "there is nothing left of my garden but the
memory of it."

"Why, Miss Gertrude!" said the young man, "I hope these new-comers
haven't interfered with----" Here, observing the direction of Gertrude's
eyes, he raised his own, saw Belle and Kitty standing opposite to him;
and compelled now to speak with them, went forward to shake hands,
trusting to his remarks about strangers in general, and these new-comers
in particular, not having been overheard. Although overheard, the young
ladies chose to take no notice of that which they supposed intended for
unknown individuals.

They were mistaken, however, for Mr. Bruce knew, perfectly well that the
nieces of the present Mrs. Graham were the same girls whom he met at the
south, and was indifferent about renewing his acquaintance. But his
vanity was not proof against the evident pleasure they both manifested
at seeing him again; and he soon engaged in an animated conversation
with them, while Gertrude entered the house. She sought Emily's room,
and was giving an account of her morning's expedition to the village,
and how she had accomplished various commissions and errands, when Mrs.
Ellis came, and said, with distressed voice, "Hasn't Gertrude?--Oh,
there you are! Do tell me what Mrs. Wilkins said about the
strawberries?"

"I engaged three quarts; hasn't she sent them?"

"No, but I'm thankful to hear they're coming; I have been so plagued
about the dinner."

She now came in, and seating herself, exclaimed, "I declare, Emily, such
an ironing as our girls have got to do to-day! You never saw anything
like it! There's no end to the fine clothes Mrs. Graham and her nieces
put into our wash. It's a shame! Rich as they are, they might put out
their washing. I've been helping, _myself_, as much as I could; but, as
Mrs. Prime says, one can't do everything at once; and I've had to see
the butcher, make puddings and blancmange, and been worried to death all
the time, because I forgot to engage those strawberries. So Mrs. Wilkins
hadn't sent her fruit to market when you got there?"

"No, but she was in a great hurry getting ready; it would have been gone
in a