till June. "But he hoped," so said the letter, "that Mrs. Bell
would not turn him into the street even then, though the summer
might have come, and her regular lodgers might be expected."

"Oh dear, oh dear!" said Mrs. Bell to herself, reflecting that she
had no one of whom she could ask advice, and that she must decide
that very day. Why had she let Mr. Beckard go without telling him?
Then she told Susan, and Susan spent the day trembling. Perhaps,
thought Mrs. Bell, he will say nothing about it. In such case,
however, would it not be her duty to say something? Poor mother!
She trembled nearly as much as Susan.

It was dark when the fatal knock came at the door. The tea-things
were already laid, and the tea-cake was already baked; for it would
at any rate be necessary to give Mr. Dunn his tea. Susan, when she
heard the knock, rushed from her chair and took refuge up stairs.
The widow gave a long sigh and settled her dress. Kate O'Brien with
willing step opened the door, and bade her old friend welcome.

"How are the ladies?" asked Aaron, trying to gather something from
the face and voice of the domestic.

"Miss Hetta and Mr. Beckard be gone off to Utica, just man-and-wife
like! and so they are, more power to them."

"Oh indeed; I'm very glad," said Aaron--and so he was; very glad to
have Hetta the demure out of the way. And then he made his way into
the parlour, doubting much, and hoping much.

Mrs. Bell rose from her chair, and tried to look grave. Aaron