pantry she took under her special charge,
and at the expiration of ten days, when the master took formal possession,
she accompanied him, and enjoyed the pleased surprise with which he
received her donation of cakes, preserves, ketchups, pickles, etc., etc.,
neatly stowed away on the spotless shelves.

"What do those large square boxes in the hall contain?"

"Books which I gathered in Europe and selected in New York; among them many
rare old volumes, which you have never seen. Come down next Monday, and
help me to number and shelve them; afterward, we will read them together.
Lay aside your bonnet, and spend the evening with me."

"No, I must go back; Hugh sent me word that he would bring company to tea."

He took her hand, and drew her close to his chair, saying gently--

"Ah, Irene! I wish I could keep you always. You would be happier here, in
this little unpretending home of mine, than presiding as mistress over that
great palatial house on the hill yonder."

He kissed her fingers tenderly, and, taking her basket she left him alone
in his new home.

A few weeks passed without incident; Hugh went to New Orleans to visit
friends, and Mr. Huntingdon was frequently absent at the plantation.

One day he expressed the desire that Judge Harris's family should dine with
him, and added several gentlemen, "to make the party merry." Irene promptly
issued the invitations, suppressing the reluctance which filled her heart;
for the young people were not favourites, and she dreaded Charlie's set
speeches and admiring glances, not less than his mother's endless
disquisitions on fashion and the pedigree of all the best families of W----
and its vicinage. Grace had grown up very pretty, highly accomplished,
even-tempered, gentle-hearted, but full of her mother's fashionable
notions, and, withal, rather weak and frivolous. She and Irene were
constantly thrown into each other's society, but no warmth of feeling
existed on either side. Grace could not comprehend her companion's
character, and Irene wearied of her gay, heedless chit-chat. As the latter
anticipated, the day proved very tiresome; the usual complement of music
was contributed by Grace, the expected quantity of flattering nothings
gracefully uttered by her brother, the customary amount of execrable puns
handed around the circle for patronage and Irene gave the signal for
dinner. Mr. Huntingdon prided himself on his fine wines, and, after the
decanters had circulated f