"Well, I may be mistaken--Oh, he can't be more
than forty, or thirty," continued the man, watching
the countenance of Julia; "he is a man that looks
much older than he is."

"Is he strong and active?"

"I guess he is--he's as strong as an ox, and active
as a cat," said the other, determined he should
pass.

"Well, then," said the aunt, in her satisfied way,
"let every thing be ready for us in Albany by next
Tuesday. We shall leave home on Monday."

The man withdrew.

Julia had heard enough--for ox she had substituted
Hercules, and for cat, she read the feathered
Mercury.



CHAPTER V.

THE long expected Monday at length arrived, and
Miss Emmerson and Julia, taking an affectionate
leave of their relatives in the city, went on board
the steam-boat under the protection of Charles