Page:A Nameless Nobleman.djvu/84

72 conscious strength, and said, in her calm and even tones,—

"I shouldn't like to have my hair pulled, or my arms pinched, or to be made into a pincushion; and I think the best way to avoid it will be not to marry Reuben if those are his fashions."

"Oh! but you've got to marry him, you know," exclaimed Mercy, alarmed at the possible result of her revelations. "He'll be good enough to you, of course, especially if you don't contradict him. He thinks every thing of you."

"Hear the wind! It will be a dreadful night at sea!" exclaimed Molly, going to the window, looking out for a moment, and then partially drawing the curtain; but as she did so the cat jumped up in a chair, and, putting her fore-paws upon the window-ledge, looked out intently. Molly laughed blithely, exclaiming,—

"Well, Mrs. Tabitha, so I must leave the window uncurtained for your accommodation, must I? Well, there, you shall have a corner to yourself."

She adjusted the heavy moreen curtain in such a manner as to leave a small portion of the window uncovered, and then, drawing a little table in front of the fire, said cheerily,—

"And now we'll have our tea, and forget every thing beside. Mother made us a whole pantry full of goodies yesterday. She did not seem to think I could take care of myself at all."

"Did she make some of her pound-cake?" asked Mercy eagerly; for Mrs. Hetherford's larder was by