ny of a woman who declared he would
soon have this wilderness turned into a "frewtful garding." But as Mrs.
Gamble turned from him and engaged Mrs. March's and Bulger's attention,
Garnet gave him a beckoning nod, and as he came round, the Major leaned
out and softly said, with a most amiable dignity:

"We were really looking for you, too. Don't you want, just for three or
four hours, to forget last night's discord and come along with Sister
March and us? We've got a pleasant surprise for her, and we'll enjoy it
more, and so will she, if you take part in it."

"Why, Major Garnet--hm!--I can forget; I only can't recede, sir.
But----"

"Better speak a little lower."

"Yes, sir. Where's mother going with you, sir? I suppose she knows that,
of course?"

"O yes, she knows that. President Gamble and his wife have invited a few
of us--the two Miss Kinsingtons, Mademoiselle, Brother and Sister Tombs,
Proudfit, Sister Proudfit, Launcelot Halliday, and Fannie----"

"Professor Pettigrew?" asked John.

"No, just a few of us--to a sort of literary evening. But Sister March
doesn't know that I've been asked to read a number of her poems; you'll
be expected to recite others, and the evening will close with the
announcement that we--that is, Mrs. Gamble, Bulger, and I--I'm afraid
you'll think we've taken a great liberty in your absence, Brother March;
I----"

"What have you been doing, Major Garnet?"

"Why, John, we've outrun your intended efforts and--partly by mail,
partly by telegraph--the news only came this morning--we've found Sister
March a publisher."

"Why, Major Garnet!" whispered John, with girlish tenderness. Tears
sprang to his eyes.

"They're a new house, just starting," continued Garnet, "but they'll
print the poems at once."

"In Boston or New York?" interrupted John.

"Pittsburg."

"But how did they decide, Major, without seeing the poems?"

"They didn't; Sister March loaned me some of her duplicates."

"I hope you got good terms, did you?"

"Excellent. Thirty-three and a third per cent. royalty after the first
five thousand. Why, John, Dixie alone will want that many."

John "reckoned so" and backed his horse. Mrs. Gamble ratified the
Major's invitation, and the horseman replied to the smiling four that he
must go home for one or two matters, but would make haste to join them
in Suez. As Garnet lifted the reins Mrs. March settled herself anew at
his side with a sweet glance into his face which d