demoiselle. Je suis
perfaitement_ delighted to see you," at the same time offering her his
hand.

All saw with what hauteur she declined it, but only one, and that was
Anna, heard her as she said, "Keep off, Penoyer; don't make a donkey
of yourself." It was strange, Anna said, "how far into his boots
Penoyer tried to draw himself," while at each fresh flash of Agnes'
keen black eyes, he winced, either from fear or sympathy.

The restraint which had surrounded the little company gave way beneath
the lively sallies and sparkling wit of Agnes, who, instead of seeming
amazed at the country girls, was apparently as much at ease as though
she had been entertaining a drawing-room full of polished city belles.
When at last the party broke up, each and every one was in love with
the little Albany lady, although all noticed that Carrie seemed
troubled, watching Agnes narrowly; and whenever she saw her
_tete-a-tete_ with either of her companions she would instantly draw
near, and seemed greatly relieved on finding that Penoyer was not the
subject of conversation.

"I told you so," was grandmother's reply, when informed of all this.
"I told you so. I knew Car'line warn't going to make out no great."

Juliet and Anna thought so too, but this did not prevent them from
running to the windows next morning to see Penoyer as he passed on his
way to the cars. I, who with Lizzie was tugging away at a big board
with which we thought to make a "see-saw," was honored with a graceful
wave of monsieur's hands, and the words, "_Au revoir, ma chere
Marie_."

That day Phoebe, Aunt Eunice's hired girl, came to our house.
Immediately Juliet and Anna assailed her a multitude of questions. The
amount of knowledge obtained was that "Miss Hovey was a lady, and no
mistake, for she had sights of silks and jewelry, and she that morning
went with Phoebe to see her milk, although she didn't dare venture
inside the yard. But," added Phoebe, "for all she was up so early she
did not come out to breakfast until that gentleman was gone."

This was fresh proof that Penoyer was not _comme il faut_, and Anna
expressed her determination to find out all about him ere Agnes went
home. _I_ remembered "_Dr. Watts_" and the invitation to the party,
and secretly hoped she would find out nothing bad.

CHAPTER IV.

COUSIN EMMA.

Agnes had been in town about two weeks, when my home was one morning
thrown into a state of unusual excitement by the arrival of