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 minute, always lookin' so like a moonbeam gone to sleep. It's strange how mighty takin' 'tis to every body to hear the leastest hint about gettin' married. Now I never said a word, only touched Milly up a little about a ruffle she's takin' so much pains with, and conscience, I don't know but there'd been a scene right straight off if I hadn't left. I shouldn't have 'sposed Amelia was bright enough to catch the meanin' of anything, and Milly for all what she's said that she wouldn't marry a man that drinked or smoked, now she's got most round the first corner, I shouldn't wonder if she'd change her mind. Nobody knows' what they'll do till the time comes."

"I don't know how it happens that she is so free to talk with you. She never seems disposed to enter into conversation with the rest of us," observed Rosalind.

"Just the easiest thing in the world. She thinks you all know so much mor'n she does, but I'm so light-headed and careless, she ain't afraid of a venture with me."

"Milly knows enough if she only knew how to act it out, and I admire her good sense, having too much confidence in her to think she will ever swerve from her principles."

Kate cast a quizzing glance, as Rosalind said this without looking up from her work, wondering what might be passing through her mind then, and regretting that the proprieties of her station as a domestic forbade the familiarity with which she would have treated a similar remark from Milly.

The early twilight soon forbade their sewing long-