I said it was only three
days--but in fact it is only two, for this is Thursday evening, and he
will take us home on Sunday morning; so you see there is only two whole
days--Friday and Saturday--between this and that!"

"And how do you feel about this great change of fortune? Are you still
frightened, though no longer unbelieving?"

"No, indeed!" replied Nora, glancing up at the little looking-glass that
hung immediately opposite to her wheel; "if I have pleased Herman, who
is so fastidious, it is not likely that. I should disgust others. And
mind this, too: I pleased Herman in my homespun gown, and when I meet
his friends at Brudenell Hall, I shall have all the advantages of
splendid dress. No, Hannah, I am no longer incredulous or frightened.
And if ever, when sitting at the head of his table when there is a
dinner party, my heart should begin to fail me, I will say to myself: 'I
pleased Herman--the noblest of you all,' and then I know my courage will
return. But, Hannah, won't people be astonished when they find out that
I, poor Nora Worth, am really and truly Mrs. Herman Brudenell! What will
they say? What will old Mrs. Jones say? And oh! what will the Miss
Mervins say? I should like to see their faces when they hear it! for you
know it is reported that Colonel Mervin is to marry Miss Brudenell, and
that the two Miss Mervins are secretly pulling caps who shall take
Herman! Poor young ladies! won't they be dumfounded when they find out
that poor Nora Worth has had him all this time! I wonder how long it
will take them to get over the mortification, and also whether they will
call to see me. Do you think they will, Hannah?"

"I do not know, my dear. The Mervins hold their heads very high,"
replied the sober elder sister.

"Do they! Well, I fancy they have not much right to hold their heads
much higher than the Brudenells of Brudenell Hall hold theirs. Hannah,
do you happen to know who our first ancestor was?"

"Adam, my dear, I believe.''

"Nonsense, Hannah; I do not mean the first father of all mankind--I mean
the head of our house."

"Our house? Indeed, my dear, I don't even know who our grandfather was."

"Fudge, Hannah, I am not talking of the Worths, who of course have no
history. I am talking of our family--the Brudenells!"

"Oh!" said Hannah dryly.

"And now do you know who our first ancestor was?"

"Yes; some Norman filibuster who came over to England with William the
Conqueror, I suppose. I belie