smile.

'You single men are too amusing, my dear brother,' said she, looking
earnestly into my face and patting my shoulder with an expression of
pity. 'To convince you that woman's mission is the care of domestic
matters; and, as I would like a little rest combined with fun, I will
turn over everything to you, and----'

'Done!' I yelled with delight, and jumping up, I paced up and down the
library like a prisoner freed from chains.--'Done! Oh! I thank you,
Mary.'

'Stop, young man,' she said, with assumed severity, 'hear the conditions
of the bond.'

'Write it down,' I said, in haste, 'and so long as I am to have the
reins I will sign.'

'Well, sir,' said she, entering with her old accustomed gaiety into the
subject matter. 'I agree to let you keep house on the following
conditions:' naming a good many, which I listened to with marked
interest, and finally condensed into the form of a written contract,
though no lawyer; for fear, as I told her, she would violate the
premises. As well as I can remember, for it was many years ago--it ran
as follows:

'This agreement made this 24th November, 1853, between Mary Walters of
the city, county and state of New York, being party of the first part,
and William d'Aubrey of the said city, county and state of New York,
party of the second part, witnesseth as follows: Said party of the first