car, we were going
down to Dr. Martin's, and we've got married again."

Mrs. Dawson uttered a long, low whistle by way of comment. Mrs.
Worthington gave vent to her usual "Well I'll be switched," which she
was capable of making expressive of every shade of astonishment, from
the lightest to the most pronounced; at the same time unfastening the
bridle of her bonnet which plainly hindered her free respiration after
such a shock.

"Say that Fanny isn't sly, after that, Belle."

"Sly? My God, she's a fool! If ever a woman had a snap! and to go to
work and let a man get around her like that."

Mrs. Worthington seemed powerless to express herself in anything but
disconnected exclamations.

"What are you going to do, Fanny?" asked Lou, who having aired all the
astonishment which she cared to show, in her whistle, was collected
enough to want her natural curiosity satisfied.

"David's living down South. I guess we'll go down there pretty soon.
Soon's he can get things fixed up here."

"Where--down South?"

"Oh, I don't know. Somewheres in Louisiana."

"It's to be hoped in New Orleans," spoke Belle didactically, "that's
the only decent place in Louisiana where a person could live."

"No, 'tain't in New Orleans. He's got a saw mill somewheres down
there."

"Heavens and earth! a saw mill?" shrieked Belle. Lou was looking
calmly resigned to the startling news.

"Oh, I ain't going to live in a saw mill. I wisht you'd all let me
alone, any way," she returned pettishly. "There's a lady keeps a
plantation, and that's where he lives."

"Well of all the rigmaroles! a lady, and a saw mill and a plantation.
It's my opinion that man could make you believe black's white, Fanny
Larimore."

As Hosmer approached his house, he felt mechanically in his pocket for
his latch key; so small a trick having come back to him with the old
habit of misery. Of course he found no key. His ring startled Fanny,
who at once sprang from her scat to open the door for him; but having
taken a few steps, she hesitated and irresolutely re-seated herself.
It was only his second ring that the servant unamiably condescended to
answer.

"So you're going to take Fanny away from us, Mr. Hosmer," said Belle,
when he had greeted them and seated himself beside Mrs. Dawson on the
small sofa that stood between the door and window. Fanny sat at the
adjoining window, and Mrs. Worthington in the center of the room;
which was indeed so small a room that any o