all out-doors, too!"

But instead of enlarging on this point, he went into a sketch of the
improvements the road could make with the money saved by the change,
and was waxing eloquent when a lady of a pleasant and comely face,
and a trig though not slender figure, advanced to greet them.


It was after breakfast (and the scene was the neat pig's pen,
where Armorer was displaying his ignorance of swine)
that he found his first chance to talk with his sister alone.
"Oh, first, Sis," said he, "about your birthday, to-day;
I telegraphed to Tiffany's for that silver service, you know,
that you liked, so you needn't think there's a mistake
when it comes."

"Oh, 'Raish, that gorgeous thing! I must kiss you, if Daniel
does see me!"

"Oh, that's all right," said Armorer, hastily, and began
to talk of the pig. Suddenly, without looking up, he dropped
into the pig-pen the remark: "I'm very much obliged to you
for writing me, Meg."

"I don't know whether to feel more like a virtuous sister or a
villanous aunt," sighed Mrs. Ellis; "things seemed to be getting
on so rapidly that it didn't seem right, Esther visiting me and all,
not to give you a hint; still, I am sure that nothing has been said,
and it is horrid for Esther, perfectly HORRID, discussing her proposals
that haven't been proposed!"