the day before yesterday."

"Oh, I don't believe a word of it," replied Esther. She looked at her
sister for a moment, and then said in an injured tone, "I guess I am old
enough to take care of myself. What! half-past two already? I must be
off;" and off she went.

Supper being over, Esther put on her brown dress and took her accustomed
seat on the front door step to talk to Dan, as he smoked his evening
pipe. Jane dressed in her favorite white dress, trimmed with black
velvet, her beautiful hair fastened in a true Grecian coil, and
perfectly smooth at the temples, is in the parlor attending to her
choice plants, presently her beau comes to spend the evening with her.

So the evening passes away. Olive has sung little George to sleep,
carried him up to bed and retired herself. Dan has smoked his pipe and
retired also. It was now ten o'clock. Esther still sat on the front step
humming the tune of a well known Wesleyan hymn to herself as she gazed
up at the stars, for it must be remembered that although she was not by
any means pious, still, like a dutiful girl, she went to church with Dan
and Olive. As the girl was just passing into womanhood, and felt that
she must love something, it was perfectly natural for her to sit there
and wait for Bob to make his appearance. About half-past ten Jane's beau
took his departure, and Jane not having anything further to keep her up,
decided to retire, and advised Esther to follow her example.

Esther took a last look up and down the street, and then went into the
house with much reluctance. After locking the front door the girls went
into the dining room and Jane lighted the lamp. Esther had taken off her
shoes and thrown them on the floor, as was her custom, when it suddenly
occurred to her that there was butter-milk in the cellar, and the same
instant she made up her mind to have some. Taking the lamp from Jane,
she runs into the cellar in her stocking feet, drinks about a pint of
butter-milk and runs up again, telling her sister, who has been
meanwhile in the dark dining room, that a large rat passed between her
feet while in the cellar.

"Come right up to bed you silly girl," said Jane, "and don't be talking
about rats at this time of night." So Jane took the lamp and Esther
picked up her shoes, and they went to their bed-room.

After closing the door of their room, "Esther," said Jane, "you are
foolish to think anything at all about Bob."

"Oh, mind your own business, Ja