version, the
attorney's clerk. What a sound kernel is sometimes hidden under a rough
and rugged rind!

Mr. Adolphus, more frightened than hurt, and with so much of the
conceit washed out of him by his involuntary cold bath, that it might be
accounted one of the most fortunate accidents in his life, was conveyed
to the Hall; but her own house being almost equally near, Mrs. Deborah
was at once taken home, and put comfortably to bed in her own chamber.

About two hours afterwards, the whole of the miller's family, Mrs.
Thornly still pallid and trembling, Cicely smiling through her tears,
and her father as blunt and freespoken as ever, were assembled round the
homely couch of their maiden cousin.

"I tell you I must have the lawyer fetched directly. I can't sleep till
I have made my will;" said Mrs. Deborah.

"Better not," responded John Stokes; "you'll want it altered
to-morrow."

"What's that you say, cousin John?" inquired the spinster.

"That if you make your will to night, you'll change your mind
to-morrow," reiterated John Stokes. "Ned's going to be married to my
Cicely," added he, "and that you mayn't like, or if you did like it
this week, you might not like it next So you'd better let matters rest
as they are."

"You're a provoking man, John Stokes," said his cousin--"a very
provoking, obstinate man. But I'll convince you for once. Take that key,
Mrs. Thornly," quoth she, raising herself in bed, and fumbling in an
immense pair of pockets for a small old-fashioned key, "and open the
'scrutoire, and give me the pen and ink, and the old narrow brown book,
that you'll find at the top. Not like his marrying Cicely! Why I always
have loved that child--don't cry, Cissy!--and have always had cause, for
she has been a kind little creature to me. Those dahlias came from her,
and the sweet posy," pursued Mrs. Deborah, pointing to a nosegay of
autumn flowers, the old fragrant monthly rose, mignionette, heliotrope,
cloves, and jessamine, which stood by the bedside. "Ay, that's the book,
Mrs. Thornly; and there, Cissy," continued Aunt Deborah, filling up the
check, with a sum far larger than that required for the partnership--
"there, Cissy, is your marriage portion. Don't cry so, child!" said she,
as the affectionate girl hung round her neck in a passion of grateful
tears--"don't cry, but find out Edward, and send for the lawyer, for I'm
determined to settle my affairs to night And now, John Stokes, I know
I've been a