one?"

"Mother," said Laddie; "mother, have you such a poor opinion of the
things you and father have taught us, and the lives you've lived before
us, that you're really afraid of a slip of a girl, almost a stranger?"

"The most attractive girl I ever have seen, and mighty willing to be no
longer a stranger, Lad."

"Well, I can't promise for the others," said Laddie, "but for myself I
will give you my word of honour that I won't be influenced the breadth
of one hair by her, in a doctrinal way."

"Humph!" said my mother. "And it is for you I fear. If a young man is
given the slightest encouragement by a girl like that, even his God
can't always hold him; and you never have made a confession of faith,
Laddie. It is you she will be most likely to captivate."

"If you think I have any chance, I'll go straight over and ask her
father for her this very evening," said Laddie, and even mother
laughed; then all of us started to the house, for it was almost supper
time. I got ready and thought I'd take one more peep at the dress
before Sally pinned it in the sheet again, and when I went back, there
all huddled in a bunch before it stood Miss Amelia, the tears running
down her cheeks.

"Did Sally say you might come here?" I asked.

"No," said Miss Amelia, "but I've been so crazy to see I just slipped
in to take a peep when I noticed the open door. I'll go this minute.
Please don't tell her."

I didn't say what I would do, but I didn't intend to.

"What are you crying about?" I inquired.

"Ah, I too have known love," sobbed Miss Amelia. "Once I made a
wedding dress, and expected to be a happy bride."

"Well, wasn't you?" I asked, and knew at once it was a silly question,
for of course she would not be a miss, if she had not missed marrying.

"He died!" sobbed Miss Amelia.

If he could have seen her then, I believe he'd have been glad of it;
but maybe he looked as bony and dejected as she did before he went; and
he may have turned to stone afterward, as sometimes happens. Right
then I heard Sally coming, so I grabbed Miss Amelia and dragged her
under the fourposter, where I always hid when caught doing something I
shouldn't. But Sally had so much stuff she couldn't keep all of it on
the bed, and when she stooped and lifted the ruffle to shove a box
under, she pushed it right against us, and knelt to look, and there we
were.

"Well upon my soul!" she cried, and sat flat on the floor, holding the
ruffle, peer