sense, and could see through her manoeuvers--coaxing and petting up
the child to curry favor with the father! I thank my stars that I am
above such mean tricks! I presume she thinks, now, she is making a
splendid match; but if she doesn't repent of her bargain before she
has been married a year, I miss my guess! She'll never have her own
way--not a bit of it--I can tell her that. Everybody that knows
him will tell you that he is high-tempered and tyrannical, and as
obstinate as a mule."

"The grapes are very sour, I think," whispered Mrs. Hart to her next
neighbor, who nodded and laughed.

"There is Elsie out on the veranda, now," said Annie. "I mean to
go and ask her what Miss Allison had her father's ring for; may I,
mamma?"

"Yes; go, child, if you want to; I should like to hear what she will
say; though, of course, everybody understands that there must be an
engagement."

"Well, Elsie, what made you run away in such a hurry yesterday?" asked
Annie, running up to our little friend. "Did you ask your papa about
the new mamma?"

"I told him what you said, Annie, and it wasn't true," Elsie answered,
with a glad look of joy. "I am going to have a new mother though, and
papa said I might tell you; but it is Miss Allison instead of Miss
Stevens, and I am very glad, because I love her dearly."

"Is she your governess?"