ing."

"Bless your heart, sir! you needn't go a step for that. My Jerry will
hail the very next one that passes the wood-yard," suggested the old
lady.

"Silence, old woman!" said Maxwell, sternly, for he feared the dame
would increase Emily's distrust of him.

"Don't old-woman me, you puppy! I know what's what!" responded the dame,
sharply, for her temper was not exactly angelic; "it's my opinion you
don't mean this lady any good. Let me tell you, aforehand, you can't cut
any of your didoes here!"

"Silence, woman! when I need your help I will ask it. I propose, Miss
Dumont, to convey you to Vicksburg, where you can be comfortably
accommodated until a steamer arrives which will take you to Cincinnati.
It may be several days, you are aware."

"Several days!" exclaimed the mistress of the cabin; "who ever heerd of
such a thing! There'll be one along afore the day is out."

"For Cincinnati?" sneered Maxwell, who found the old woman's tongue a
very formidable weapon.

"I dare say there will," responded the dame.

"It is extremely uncertain, Miss Dumont. We came in the last one, and it
is scarcely possible, at this season, another followed immediately. But
here is the carriage."

"Mr. Maxwell, I shall positively refuse to accompany you," said Emily,
in a most decided tone. "This good woman, I doubt not, will accommodate
me."

"That I will," promptly responded the dame.

"I am sorry, Miss Dumont, I cannot, in this instance, yield to your
wishes. I must insist on your company to Vicksburg," said Maxwell,
striving, by a supercilious manner, to keep down his angry passions.

"By what right, sir, do you _insist_ upon it? I was not aware that you
were invested with any legal control over me."

"Then you are mistaken. I act upon undoubted authority."

"Indeed, sir, are you my guardian?" said Emily, shuddering at the
thought of the will.

"Not technically a guardian. My authority is a little more definite."

"I do not understand you, sir."

"It is immaterial. Perhaps you had better go with me peaceably,
however," said Maxwell, with a carelessness foreign to his feelings.

"That, sir, I never will do alive!" replied Emily, surmising the nature
of the attorney's assumed authority. "Mr. Maxwell, you have taught me to
believe that you are a hardened villain, and I _command_ you, leave my
presence!"

The indignation of Emily was roused, and she spoke with a flashing eye,
and with an imperativeness which her wron