ed some of her aunt's best-known tales, and good Mrs. Parker
never dreamed of the possibility of her caller being any one but worthy
Miss Betsey Trinkett, of Wayborough, whom she had known for years.

Mrs. Parker was a great talker, and usually she was obliged to fight
hard to surpass Miss Trinkett in that respect. During the first part of
the call to-day it was as difficult as usual, but Mrs. Parker presently
made a remark which reduced her visitor to a state of alarming silence.

"I suppose you have come to announce the news," said the hostess,
smiling sympathetically.

"Now I don't know a bit of news. Why, my dear Mrs. Parker, Silas and I
we never--"

"Ah, but this has nothing to do with Silas, though it may affect you,
more or less. Surely you know what I am alluding to?"

"I haven't the least idea."

And Cynthia bridled with curiosity on her own account as well as Aunt
Betsey's. She thought something interesting must be coming.

"Well, now, to think of my being the one to tell you something about
your own family! I don't know whether I ought to, but I think it must be
true, and you'll hear it in other ways soon enough. You know I have
relatives in Albany, where she lives."

"Where who lives?"

"Miss Gordon, Hester Gordon. They say--but, of course, I don't know that
it's true, it may be just report, but they do say-- I don't know whether
I ought to tell you, I declare! that it won't be long before she's Mrs.
Franklin."

"Mrs. Franklin!"

"Yes, Mrs. John Franklin. Hasn't your nephew told you? Well, well, these
men! They do beat all for keeping things quiet."

"Is it true?"

It was Cynthia's natural voice that asked this question. She quite
forgot that she was supposed to be Miss Betsey Trinkett.

[Illustration: "YOUR VOICE SOUNDS SORT OF UNNATURAL, TOO," ADDED MRS.
PARKER.]

"I suppose it is. But, dear me, Miss Trinkett, don't be worried! Seems
to me you look very queer, though I can't see your face very well
through that veil, and you with your back to the light. Your voice
sounds sort of unnatural, too," added Mrs. Parker. "Let me get you some
water."

"Oh no, it is nothing," said Cynthia, who had quickly recovered herself,
and was now summoning all her energy to finish the call in a proper
manner. "You surprised me, that's all, and I never did care much for
surprises. But I think there's not much truth in that, Mrs. Parker. I
don't believe my fa--nephew is going to be married again. In fact, I