nes, tell
me--was his mother very, very angry with him about it?" she inquired,
turning to the visitor.

"Angry? Dear heart, no! pleased as Punch! 'peared's if a great weight
was lifted offen her mind," replied the latter.

"There again, Hannah! What else did I tell you! Herman's mother is a
Christian lady! She ill-used me only when she thought I was bad; now
Herman has owned his marriage, and she is pleased to find that it is all
right! Now isn't that good? Oh, I know I shall love her, and make her
love me, too, more than any high-bred, wealthy daughter-in-law ever
could! And I shall serve her more than any of her own children ever
would! And she will find out the true worth of a faithful, affectionate,
devoted heart, that would die to save her or her son, or live to serve
both! And she will love me dearly yet!" exclaimed Nora, with a glow of
enthusiasm suffusing her beautiful face.

"Now, what upon the face of the yeth be that gal a-talking about? I want
to tell my story!" exclaimed Mrs. Jones, who had been listening
indignantly, without comprehending entirely Nora's interruption.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Jones," laughed the latter, "I should not
have jumped to the conclusion of your story. I should have let you tell
it in your own manner; though I doubt if you know all about it either,
from the way you talk."

"Don't I, though! I should like to know who knows more."

"Well, now, tell us all about it!"

"You've gone and put me out now, and I don't know where to begin."

"Well, then, I'll help you out--what time was it that Mr. Brudenell
acknowledged his private marriage?"

"There now; how did you know it was a private marriage? I never said
nothing about it being private yet! Hows'ever, I s'pose you so clever
you guessed it, and anyway you guessed right; it were a private
marriage. And when did he own up to it, you ask? Why, not as long as he
could help it, you may depend! Not until his lawful wife actilly arove
up at Brudenell Hall, and that was last night about one o'clock!"

"Oh, there you are very much mistaken; it was but seven in the evening,"
said Nora.

"There now, again! how do you know anything about it? Somebody's been
here afore me and been a-telling of you, I suppose; and a-telling of you
wrong, too!" petulantly exclaimed the old woman.

"No, indeed, there has not been a soul here to-day; neither have we
heard a word from Brudenell Hall! Still, I think you must be mistaken as
to the ho