randiere.

"'Evil at heart'" repeated Mrs. Hedge, reflectively. "No, perhaps not."

"He is a little wild, to be sure."

"'A little wild!' He is enough to break Miss Sibby's heart!"

"I don't see why. He is no kin to her."

"No; but she loves him as if he were her only son. She liked to have cried
her eyes out when he went to sea, you know."

"Yes, I know. And yet it was as good a career as he could enter upon. The
merchant service is not so genteel as the navy, to be sure, but, then, it
is really more promising, in a lucrative point of view, and a young man of
no family need not mind about the gentility."

"Yet that is just what grieved Miss Sibby's heart--that her adopted nephew
should be obliged to gratify his passion for the sea by entering the
merchant service instead of the United States Navy."

"Poor Miss Sibby! It is hard to say whether her pride in her own descent
or her love for her adopted nephew is her ruling passion," concluded Miss
Grandiere, with a smile.

Their walk had now brought them to the borders of a frozen creek, on the
other side of which stood a small farmhouse, surrounded by a few
outbuildings.

This was "Forest Rest," or "Miss Sibby's," as it was frequently called.

At the open door stood a short, stout old lady, in a homespun brown linsey
gown, a white apron, and a white cap.

She had seen the approach of visitors from her window, and had come out to
welcome them.

"How do? How do?" she exclaimed, holding out both hands and shaking them,
right and left. "How dee do? Why, I'm mighty proud to see you! Come in!
Come in out'n the cold!" she added, as she led her visitors through the
front door that opened immediately into the principal room of the house.

It was a large, homely room, with whitewashed walls, bare floor, large
open fireplace, and two front windows, shaded with blue paper blinds. It
was plainly furnished with a pine table, chip chairs, corner cupboard,
tall clock, and all the usual features of the rustic parlor. Its great
redeeming point was the glowing fire of oak logs that burned in the broad
chimney.

"Come right here and sit down, and get a good warm before you take off
your things. Make yourself comfortable, sez I! never mind looks," said
Miss Sibby, drawing chairs close to the hearth for her half frozen
guests.

"So Roland has come home, I hear, Miss Sibby," began Mrs. Hedge, as she
stretched her benumbed fingers over the fire.

"Yes, he has, safe and sound