wrappers and Marguerite braids, our plans for the morrow, when Minna
announced:

"A visit, Madame; a gentleman."

"Probably a neighbor upon business," said mamma to us; "show him in
here, Minna."

The door opened, and enter the guest for whom, in imagination, we were
making such extensive preparations.

A very expressive glance was telegraphed around our circle. I was
engaged in the domestic occupation of hemming one of papa's
handkerchiefs, and although Hawthorne draws so pretty a picture of the
beautiful Miriam while engaged in "the feminine task of mending a pair
of gloves," with all deference to the poet's taste, I consider the
beguiling little scraps of canvas or kid which I produce when company
is present, much more attractive than plain sewing.

In a moment the surprise was explained. Mr. O'Dwyer had received
orders to represent _The Tribune_ somewhere, the following day, just in
time to catch the Pleasantville express, and run out to tell us that he
could not come at the time appointed.

"The circumstances were trying," we said to each other, after his
departure; but imagine, girls, how much worse they would have been, had
the visitor been a lady! As long as a wrapper is black, I very much
doubt if a gentleman would know it from an afternoon dress.