Melissa supposed, to return, but found, to her
surprise, after they had entered the carriage, that her aunt ordered the
driver to proceed a different way. She asked her aunt if they were not
going home. "Not yet," said she. Melissa grew uneasy; she knew she was
to see Mrs. Vincent that afternoon; she knew the disappointment which
Alonzo must experience, if she was absent. She begged her aunt to
return, as she expected the company of some ladies that afternoon. "Then
they must be disappointed, child," said her aunt.--Melissa knew it was
in vain to remonstrate; she supposed her aunt was bent on visiting some
of her acquaintance, and she remained silent.

They arrived at another village, and alighted at an inn, where Melissa
and her aunt tarried, while the servant was ordered out by the latter on
some business unknown to Melissa. When they again got into the carriage
she perceived several large packages and bundles, which had been
deposited there since they left it. She enquired of her aunt what they
contained. "Articles for family use, child," she replied, and ordered
the driver to proceed.

They passed along winding and solitary paths, into a bye road which led
through an unfrequented wood, that opened into a rocky part of the
country bordering on the Sound. Here they stopped at the only house in
view. It was a miserable hut, built of logs, and boarded with slabs.
They alighted from the carriage, and Melissa's aunt, handing the driver
a large bunch of keys, "remember to do as I have told you," said she,
and he drove rapidly away. It was with some difficulty they got into the
hut, as a meagre cow, with a long yoke on her neck, a board before her
eyes, and a cross piece on her horns, stood with her head in the door.
On one side of her were four or five half starved squeaking pigs, on the
other a flock of gaggling geese.

As they entered the door, a woman who sat carding wool jumped up, "La
me! she cried, here is Miss D----, welcome here again. How does madam
do?" dropping a low curtsey. She was dressed in a linsey woolsey short
gown, a petticoat of the same, her hair hanging about her ears, and
barefoot. Three dirty, ragged children were playing about the floor, and
the furniture was of a piece with the building. "Is my room in order?"
enquired Melissa's aunt. "It hasn't been touched since madam was here,"
answered the woman, and immediately stalked away to a little back
apartment, which Melissa and her aunt entered. It