re not petted. Oh,
Grant, it's so nice here; don't you like it?"

"Yes, indeed; you make the old room bright again."

Her spirits had risen, she was really quite like her old self, and that
without effort or pretence.

Then the tea was brought in, and she insisted on at least tasting
everything on the table. Clo was well acquainted with her dainty ways,
and the varieties of preserves and jellies she had brought out from her
stores was marvellous.

Elsie fed Tom with bits of toast, made him eat everything he did not
want, and beg for all that he did, and was so bright and peaceful that
Mellen himself grew quiet from her influence.

CHAPTER LXXIII.

A FEAST AND A LOVE FEAST.

While the evening was passing so pleasantly with Elsie, the principal
personages below stairs were holding a subdued revel in the
housekeeper's room.

Miss Dinah had come up from the village, and her ebony suitor was
expected. With that and their delight at Miss Elsie's improvement, the
whole staff was in excellent spirits.

"It's one ob dem 'casions," said Dolf, "when we ort ter do somethin' a
little out ob de common run--what do yer say, Miss Clorindy?"

Clo smiled affably; certain explanations had passed between her and Dolf
on the previous day, which made her inclined to consider any proposal of
his with high favor.

She summoned her unfortunate drudge Sally, and ordered her to set the
table at once.

"And don't spend yer time a gaupin' at Miss Dinah's new dress," said
she, severely; "'taint manners, nohow."

The truth was Sally had not observed the gown, but its bright crimson
had struck Clorinda's fancy, and being tempted to stare at it enviously
herself, she concluded the girl must be doing the same thing.

"Jis' obsarve what Miss Clorindy tells yer," remarked Dolf, "and yer'll
be on the road ter 'provement; Sally, yer couldn't hab a more reficient
guide."

Clo bridled and grew radiant; she cast a glance of triumph at Dinah, and
only regretted that Victoria had not yet come downstairs to hear these
benign words.

"I 'spect Othello won't get here till late," said Dinah, beginning to
fear that the good things would all have disappeared before his arrival.
"Der's some meeting at de hotel, and he'll be kept dar--de gemmen tinks
nobody else can wait on em."

"He desarves deir 'preciation," said Dolf, loftily, with the air of a
man so supremely great that he could well afford to allow ordinary
people to claim their li