m made a great effort to
keep from laughing outright.

"Oh, Mr. Rhodes," continued Elsie; "I am afraid the attractions of this
house are only borrowed ones."

The good man was thrown into a state of blushing and pleasant confusion,
but the spinster brought him through it without mercy.

"If there's company we won't stay, pa," said she.

But Elsie would not permit her to go; she whispered again about Tom, and
between her desire to stop long enough to fascinate him and her fear of
exposing her father to the wiles of the artful widow, Jemima was in
terrible perplexity.

In the midst of it Elizabeth entered, and welcomed her neighbors; Mellen
followed; and after a few moments the widow swooped down on the
unfortunate Mr. Rhodes in spite of the dragon, as a well-practised hawk
pounces on a plump chicken.

"Ah, Mr. Rhodes, this is such a surprise," she cried, fluttering up to
him with a simper on her face, which of late years had done the duty of
a blush.

"I dare say a great surprise," snapped in Jemima, siding up to her
father.

This was exquisite sport for Elsie and Mrs. Harrington; Tom would have
enjoyed it more if the spinster had not beset him as much as her divided
attention would permit, and Elizabeth and Mellen bore the infliction as
people must endure all things that come to an issue in their own house,
smiling and polite, however much they may wish for a release.

While they were at luncheon, Elizabeth's dog ran into the room with a
paper in its mouth. It was the most intelligent little creature in the
world, educated to fetch and carry in a surprising manner.

This pretty creature, which seemed almost human in her intelligence, ran
towards her mistress, but another, a new pet of Elsie's, a frolicsome,
wicked animal that had quite worried poor Fanny's life out ever since
her intrusion in the house, followed it.

Piccolomini sprang at the paper in Fan's mouth, and a contention ensued
between them which attracted general attention.

"Fanny's got a paper," cried Elsie, pointing towards her pets.

"It may be a letter," said Mellen; "Dolf often sends them in by her;
call off Pick, Elsie; she'll tear it."

But Pick would not be called off, and Fanny refused to relinquish her
hold; between them the paper was rapidly destroyed, Fanny howling
dismally all the time, and making sagacious efforts to fulfil her errand
in her usual trusty manner.

Mellen went towards them; as he did so Fanny sprang towards Eli