appearance and
manner of Isaac. He seemed exceedingly exhilarated in spirits, yet kept
his eyes down, and appeared at times very absent minded. Whatever his
thoughts were, it was evident they were pleasing ones; for he would
smile to himself, and occasionally display a comical nervousness, as
though he had some very important secret to make known, yet was not
ready to communicate it. This had been observed in him through the day;
and was so different from his usual manner, and so much beyond any
conjecture his mother could form of the cause, that at last her
curiosity became so excited, that to restrain it longer was like holding
down the safety-valve to an over-heated steam boiler; and, accordingly,
taking advantage of another mysterious smile, which Isaac chanced to
display while looking at a large piece of corn bread, already on its way
to his capacious jaws, she exclaimed:

"Why, what on yarth _is_ the matter with you, Isaac, that you keep a
grinning, and grinning, and fidgetting about all to yourself so much
like a plaguy nateral born fool for?"

So loudly, suddenly and unexpectedly was this question put--for all had
been silent some minutes previous--that Isaac started, blushed, dropped
the bread--already near enough to his teeth to have felt uncomfortable,
had it been capable of feeling--endeavored to catch it--blundered--and
finally upset his plate and contents into his lap, in a manner so truly
ridiculous, that Ella and Mrs. Younker, unable to restrain their mirth,
laughed heartily, while the stranger and Algernon smiled, and the stern
features of the father relaxed into an expression of quiet humor seldom
seen on his countenance.

"'Pon my word," continued Mrs. Younker, so soon as she could collect
breath enough after laughing to go on; "I do raley believe as how the
boy's ayther crazy, or in love, for sartin. What does ail ye, Isaac?--do
tell!"

"Perhaps he was thinking of his dear Peggy," said Ella, archly; who was,
by the way, very fond of teasing him whenever opportunity presented; and
could not even now, despite her previous low spirits, forbear a little
innocent raillery--her temperament being such, that wit and humor were
ever ready on the slightest provocation to take the ascendancy, as old
wine when stirred ever sends its sparkling beads upward. "I wonder,
Isaac, if you looked as amiable and interesting in the eyes of dear
Peggy, and made as graceful an appearance, when you popped the
question?"