"You needn't preach to me," retorted Mrs. Ellis, her face slightly
flushing. "When I want to hear a sermon, I'll go to church."

Mr. Ellis made no answer, but, lifting his babe from its mother's
lap, commenced tossing it in the air and singing a pleasant nursery
ditty. Caroline sat in a moody state of mind for some minutes, and
then left the room to give some directions about tea. On her return,
Ellis said, in as cheerful a voice as if no unpleasant incident had
transpired,

"Oh! I had forgotten to say, Cara, that Mr. Hemming and his wife
have returned from Boston. They will be around to see us some
evening this week."

"Hum-m--well." This was the cold, moody response of Mrs. Ellis.

"Mr. Hemming says that his wife's health is much better than it
was."

"Does he?" very coldly uttered.

"He seemed very cheerful."

Mrs. Ellis made no comment upon this remark of her husband, and the
latter said nothing more.

Tea was soon announced, and the husband and wife went, with their
two oldest children, to partake of their evening meal. A cloud still
hung over Caroline's features. Try as Ellis would to feel