two hours: in that time the whole
campaign was settled.

CHAPTER XXVII.

MARY WELLS by order went down, in a loose morning wrapper her mistress
had given her, and dined in the servants' hall. She was welcomed with a
sort of shout, half ironical; and the chief butler said,

"Glad to see you come back to us, Miss Wells."

"The same to you, sir," said Mary, with more pertness than logic;
"which I'm only come to take leave, for to-morrow I go to London, on
business."

"La! what's the business, I wonder?" inquired a house-maid,
irreverentially.

"Well, my business is not your business, Jane. However, if you want to
know, I'm going to be married."

"And none too soon," whispered the kitchen-maid to a footman.

"Speak up, my dear," said Mary. "There's nothing more vulgarer than
whispering in company."

"I said, 'What will Bill Drake say to that?'"

"Bill Drake will say he was a goose not to make up his mind quicker.
This will learn him beauty won't wait for no man. If he cries when I am
gone, you lend him your apron to wipe his eyes, and tell him women
can't abide shilly-shallying men."

"That's a hexcellent sentiment," said John the footman, "and a solemn
warning it is--"

"To all such as footmen be," said Mary.

"We writes it in the fly-leaf of our Bibles accordingly," said John.

"No, my man, write it somewhere where you'll have a chance to read it."

This caused a laugh; and when it was over, the butler, who did not feel
strong enough to chaff a lady of this caliber, inquired obsequiously
whether he might venture to ask who was the happy stranger to carry off
such a prize.

"A civil question deserves a civil answer, Mr. Wright," said Mary. "It
is a sea-faring man, the mate of a ship. He have known me a few years
longer than any man in these parts. Whenever he comes home from a
voyage he tells me what he has made, and asks me to marry him. I have
said 'No' so many times I'm sick and tired; so I have said 'Yes' for
once in a way. Changes are lightsome, you know."

Thus airily did Mary Wells communicate her prospects, and next morning
early was driven to the station; a cart had gone before with her
luggage, which tormented the female servants terribly; for, instead of
the droll little servant's box, covered with paper, she had a large
lady's box, filled with linen and clothes by the liberality of Lady
Bassett, and a covered basket, and an old carpet-bag, with some minor
packages of an unintelligi