sual warmth of her greeting, that old Hayseed looked
on from his side of the fence with a meditative air.

"The colt's a-yearnin' fer somethin' without knowin' it," he said to
himself as Nannie dragged Hilda into the house.

"I ought not to sit down," Hilda panted. "Oh, dear! Let me get my
breath! Do you see how awfully fat I am? and my husband don't weigh
but a hundred and twenty--think of that! A sparrow for a protector! If
ever I wanted to get behind him to escape a mouse or anything, what
should I do?"

"Where is he?" asked Nannie.

"What--the mouse?" screamed Hilda.

"No," said Nannie, "the husband;" and then the two fell a-laughing in
the old foolish way.

"Husband! Oh, I thought you'd have something of that kind around, and
one would be enough for to-day."

"No, really! Where is he?"

"Over on the other side of the ravine. You see, we missed the road and
got entangled in the forest. Ye gods! how literally you've taken to
the woods, Nannie! Well, DeLancy didn't feel he was equal to a climb,
so I came alone, presumably to find the road, but I couldn't go on
without seeing you, so I've stolen a visit."

"You'd better!" said Nannie. "If ever you pass me by I'll haunt you!"

"I know that. I always was afraid of you. I always said you were a
little----"

"Sh-h!" said Nannie, imitating Prudence Shaftsbury's air and manner.

"Dear old Prue!" said Hilda. "I saw her the other day. I believe she's
really happy. She don't say much, but she looks it. She's awfully
swell, too. Why, you hear Mrs. Ralph Porter on all sides. She leads
everything. That girl has more tact and diplomacy than any one I ever
saw. Awfully nice girl, too. Here I am, always putting my foot in it.
DeLancy says I fling a rope around my neck so surely as I open my
mouth, and with each succeeding word I give it a jerk. Oh, dear me! I
ought to be going. He'll be wild! Why, you don't look any too well.
What's the matter with you, Nan? Aren't you happy, child?"

"Yes. Mind your business!" said Nannie in the old defiant way.

"Bless me! bless me! You haven't changed a mite! I thought marriage
would improve you. Oh, do you know Evelyn Rogers was married the
other day?"

"No," said Nannie with quickened interest.

"Yes--not at her home. She was visiting her aunt in New York, and
there she married her villainous-looking professor, and would you
believe it? I heard they went right off to the slums on a wedding
trip, taking a thief, and an anarch