d he
passed her the other. She took it and recognizing Mr. Miller's writing,
knew also that Rondeau had given her the wrong one, so she said in a
commanding tone, "What does all this mean? Give me the other one
immediately."

The submissive African, ever obedient to his superiors, handed her the
other letter, and then in a few words told his story, and announced his
intention of confessing all to his master, at the same time extending his
hand to take the letters. But Julia did not mean he should have them, and
she said, coaxingly, "You have done very wrong, Rondeau, and your master
will undoubtedly be very angry, but I will take them to him and intercede
for you, as you are on the whole a pretty fine fellow. He'll forgive you
for me. I know he will, but mind, don't you say anything to him about it
until you've seen me again."

So saying, she returned to the house and, going to her room, bolted the
door. After which, breaking the seal of the oldest letter, she
deliberately read it through, occasionally uttering a malediction against
Mr. Miller, thanking the good luck which brought it to her hands instead
of Dr. Lacey's, and making remarks generally. Said she, "Mighty good
opinion Mr. Quilting-frames has of me (alluding to Mr. Miller's height),
glad I know his mind. A heap of good the answer to this did him, and his
doll wife, too. Hadn't I better answer it myself? I'd write after this
fashion: 'Mr. Miller--At first I thought I would treat your letter with
silent contempt, but recently I have concluded to write and thank you to
mind your own business. By order of George Lacey, Esq.--Julia Middleton,
Secretary.' Yes, that would serve the meddling old Yankee Dictionary
right," continued she, and then, as her eye fell upon the remaining
letter, she added, "Yes, I'll read this one too, and see what new thing
I'm guilty of!"

As soon as she broke it open and glanced at the handwriting, she knew it
to be from Mrs. Carrington. "What now?" said she, "what has Mrs.
Carrington got to say about me."

A rapid perusal of the letter showed her what Mrs. Carrington had to say,
and she continued her remarks as follows: "She has described me quite
accurately. I didn't suppose she knew me so well. I wonder who'll write
next! It seems everybody is in league against me, but I'm enough for
anybody there is in Kentucky; and," she added, in a lower tone, "I
wouldn't hesitate to try my strength with Satan himself;" but even then
the dark g