r
at it, for she looked as pretty as a new-blown rose, and her voice had
the sweetness and freshness of a June mornin' in it, when the air is
full and runnin' over with the song of bird and bee, and the soft
murmur of the southern breeze amongst the dewy flowers. She wuz
singin' old Scottish and English ballads, and more than one eye wuz
wet as she sang about "Auld Joe Nicholson's Bonnie Nannie," and "I'm
Wearin' Away, Jean," and the dear old "Annie Laurie."

Miss Meechim looked worried and anxious, and sez she: "Oh, how I do
wish Robert Strong wuz here. Oh, dear! what a trial it is to keep
young folks apart."

And I sez: "What makes you try to? It is jest as nateral for 'em to
like each other's company as it is for bluebirds and robins to fly
round together in the spring of the year, and no more hurt in it, as I
can see."

Sez she impressively: "Haven't I told you, Josiah Allen's wife, my
wearing anxiety, my haunting fear that in spite of all my efforts and
labors Dorothy will marry some one in spite of me? You know how
invincibly opposed I am to matrimony. And you can see for yourself
just how much admiration she gits everywhere, and one of those young
men," sez she, frowning darkly on a handsome young Englishman, "I am
sure is in earnest. See the expression of his face--it is simply
worship. He would throw himself on his knees in front of her this
minute if there were not so many round. Oh, why don't Robert come and
protect her?"

Her face looked fairly haggard with anxiety, but even as I looked the
anxious lines wuz smoothed from her worried face like magic, and I see
Robert Strong come in and approach the group at the piano.

Miss Meechim leaned back in her chair in a restful, luxurious
attitude, and sez she: "Oh, what a relief! What a burden has rolled
off from me! Robert knows just how I feel; he will protect her from
matrimony. Now I can converse with ease and comfort," and she turned
the subject round on missionary teas and socials and the best way to
get 'em up.

The next mornin' Arvilly didn't appear to breakfast. I waited some
time for her, for I wanted her to go sightseeing with me, and Arvilly
wuz as punctual as the sun himself about gittin' up in the mornin',
and about as early.

I thought to myself: "Is Arvilly a-goin' to come up missin', as our
dear Aronette did?" I wuz agitated. I sent to her room, but no answer.
My agitation increased. I then went to her room myself, but my knock
at her doo