come just in time."

"What a dear, good, stupid old thing you are, James. Where is
Ernest--Mr. Vane? James, is he well and happy? I want to surprise him."

"Yes, ma'am," said James, looking down.

"I left the old stupid coach at Islington, James. The something--pin was
loose, or I don't know what. Could I wait two hours there? So I came on
by myself; you wicked old man, you let me talk, and don't tell me how he
is."

"Master is main well, ma'am, and thank you," said old Burdock, confused
and uneasy.

"But is he happy? Of course he is. Are we not to meet to-day after six
months? Ah! but never mind, they _are_ gone by."

"Lord bless her!" thought the faithful old fellow. "If sitting down and
crying could help her, I wouldn't be long."

By this time they were in the banqueting-room and at the preparations
there Mabel gave a start; she then colored. "Oh, he has invited his
friends to make acquaintance. I had rather we had been alone all this
day and to-morrow. But he must not know that. No; _his_ friends are _my_
friends, and shall be too," thought the country wife. She then glanced
with some misgiving at her traveling attire, and wished she had brought
_one_ trunk with her.

"James," said she, "where is my room? And, mind, I forbid you to tell a
soul I am come."

"Your room, Miss Mabel?"

"Well, any room where there is looking-glass and water."

She then went to a door which opened in fact on a short passage leading
to a room occupied by Mr. Vane himself.

"No, no!" cried James. "That is master's room."

"Well, is not master's room mistress's room, old man? But stay; is he
there?"

"No, ma'am; he is in the garden, with a power of fine folks."

"They shall not see me till I have made myself a little more decent,"
said the young beauty, who knew at bottom how little comparatively
the color of her dress could affect her appearance, and she opened Mr.
Vane's door and glided in.

Burdock's first determination was, in spite of her injunction, to tell
Colander; but on reflection he argued: "And then what will they do?
They will put their heads together, and deceive us some other way. No!"
thought James, with a touch of spite, "we shall see how they will all
look." He argued also, that, at sight of his beautiful wife, his master
must come to his senses, and the Colander faction be defeated; and
perhaps, by the mercy of Providence, Colander himself turned off.

While thus ruminating, a thundering knock at the