nt to show you."

He read well. Louise sat at a little table sewing a pattern of beads on
a green bag. Becky had some rose-colored knitting. The Admiral was in
his big chair by the fire with his hands folded across his waistcoat and
his eyes shut. The colorful work of the two women, the light of the
fire, the glow of the little lamp at Cope's elbow, the warmth of the
red furniture saved the room from dreariness in spite of the rain
outside.

"'It was on the Common,'" read Cope, "'that we were walking. The
mall, or boulevard of our Common, you know, has various branches
leading from it in different directions. One of these runs down
from opposite Joy Street southward across the whole length of the
Common to Boylston Street. We called it the long path, and were
fond of it.

"'I felt very weak indeed (though of a tolerably robust habit) as
we came opposite the head of this path on that morning. I think I
tried to speak twice without making myself distinctly audible. At
last I got out the question, "Will you take the long path with me?"
"Certainly," said the schoolmistress, "with much pleasure."
"Think," I said, "before you answer: if you take the long path with
me now, I shall interpret it that we are to part no more!" The
schoolmistress stepped back with a sudden movement, as if an arrow
had struck her.

"'One of the long granite blocks used as seats was hard by--the one
you may still see close by the Gingko-tree. "Pray sit down," I
said. "No, no," she answered, softly, "I will walk the _long path_
with you!"

"'--The old gentleman who sits opposite met us walking arm in arm
about the middle of the long path, and said, very
charmingly,--"Good-morning, my dears!"'"

The reading stopped at luncheon time, and it was still raining. On the
table were letters for Becky forwarded from Siasconset. An interesting
account from Aunt Claudia of the wedding of Major Prime and Madge MacVeigh.

"They were married in the old orchard at the Flippins', and it was
beautiful. The bride wore simple clothes like the rest of us. It
was cool and we kept on our wraps, and she was in white linen with
a loose little coat of mauve wool, and a hat to match. The only
bride-y thing about her was a great bunch of lilacs that the Major
ordered from a Fifth Avenue florist. They are to stay in New York
fo