en she has made me smile, though fully recognizing the
wisdom of Aunt Mary's lessons, when telling me how she was obliged to
rehearse imaginary escapes from fire or midnight attacks.

Besides a devoted love for her children, a passion for the beautiful in
Nature, and fondness for solitude and books, or the companionship of
some one person of congenial tastes and highly cultured mind, Aunt Mary
possessed a fund of moral strength and heroism that one might indeed
read in the flash of her black eyes, but which a casual observer would
think incompatible with her frail figure. It was, however, many times
severely tested during uncle's absence when she had no male protector
to whom to look for assistance: but then she proved all-sufficient in
herself. At one time a number of workmen were employed upon the
place--rough, sullen creatures--who used to come to her to receive
their pay; and knowing her, a delicate, sickly woman, to be there
alone, they would often clamor for more wages than they were entitled
to receive, but never could they frighten her into granting it, for
though generous and charitable, nothing was more repugnant to her
feelings than an attempt to take an unfair advantage of her.

Upon one occasion, a man with whom she had had some business
transactions came to claim a payment that was not due him. Aunt Mary
explained to him that he was not entitled to it, and refused to see him
again. He returned another day, and she would not allow the door to be
opened. He then remained outside pulling the bell and thumping for
admittance. Aunt Mary spoke to him from the balcony above, and
requested him to leave. He vowed he would not stir without his money,
and tried to coerce her by the most frightful threats and oaths. "When
his imprecations were at their highest, Aunt Mary descended, and
throwing open the door, told him to come in; then turning to Gabrielle,
who stood beside her, said:

"Go upstairs and fetch my pistol off from the bureau."

Upon hearing these words the man left very quickly, and never returned
again to annoy her. In relating this incident to me, Gabrielle said:

"Of course I knew perfectly well that I would find no pistol upon the
bureau, but I had been too well trained by mamma to show the slightest
surprise, and promptly went upstairs in quest of imaginary firearms."

But this exhibition of cool courage paled in contrast with the true
heroism of Aunt Mary displayed at the time of the te