England, and, as a mere matter of detail, the
fourth Duke of Norfolk, one of whose younger sons came over in 1634 with
the Calverts."

"Duke of Norfolk be hanged! Why, Norfolk is in this country, over yonder
in Virginny somewhere, and we haven't got any dukes here! no, ma'am. My
grandmother's great-grandfather was the son of the Duke of England!"
persisted the old descendant of the Howards.

"But, my dear Miss Sibby, England is not a duchy!"

"Who said it was Dutchy! I know the Dutch come from Holland. I know
something, if I am a poor, ignorant old 'oman, fallen from my high estate.
And I know as I am descended from the Duke of England, and nobody shall
take that prop from underneath of me! It has supported me in many a hard
trial of life!"

"No, no one shall take it from you," said Miss Grandiere, yielding the
point.

At this moment the door opened, admitting a fine, tall, dark-eyed and
dark-haired young man, with a bright, merry, mischievous countenance.

He bowed to the ladies, threw his sailor hat upon the floor, and went and
kissed his Aunt Sibby, and then lifted Rosemary in his arms and kissed
her. Finally he shook hands again all around.

"Glad to see you back, Roland!" said Miss Grandiere.

"Welcome home, my boy!" said Mrs. Hedge.

"Did you get me a card to the wedding?" inquired the Widow Wright.

"Yes--that is, Le Force got it for me. I could not have got it, you know.
Here are three--one for you, one for auntie, and one for myself," said the
young sailor, displaying the elegant cards of silver letters on white
satin tablets.

"Then you are all going to the wedding?" said Mrs. Hedge.

"Yes, I reckon so now; though dear knows I didn't expect no invitation.
But I reckon it was a kind thought of that young Le to send me one," said
Miss Sibby.

"I think it very strange that the young man should be able to take the
least interest in that wedding. I should think he would keep as far from
the house and as far from the church as possible!" said Mrs. Hedge.

"Why, he is going to be groomsman!" put in young Bayard, laughing.

"No!" exclaimed in one breath all the women except Miss Grandiere, who
quietly remarked:

"It is, probably, as I suspected. That childish engagement amounted to
nothing. The childish affection faded from both hearts, and the young man
was as well pleased to be off it as the young lady was."

"Yes, mebbe so, indeed. But where is Le this afternoon? I thought as he
was coming home