at quarter was lulled.
Unfortunately for Anna, both her father and John Jr. were now away,
and she had no counselor save 'Lena, who once, on her own
responsibility, wrote to Malcolm, but with a like success, and Anna's
heart grew weary with hope deferred. Smilingly Mrs. Livingstone
looked on, one moment laughing at Anna for what she termed
love-sickness, and the next advising her to be a woman, and marry
Captain Atherton. "He was not very old--only forty-three--and it was
better to be an old man's darling than a young man's slave!"

Thus the days wore on, until one evening just as the family were
sitting down to tea they were surprised by a call from the captain,
who had returned that afternoon, and who, with the freedom of an old
friend, unceremoniously entered the supper-room, appropriating to
himself the extra plate which Mrs. Livingstone always had upon the
table. Simultaneously with him came Caesar, who having been to the
post-office, had just returned, bringing, besides other things, a
paper for Carrie, from her old admirer, Tom Lakin, who lived in
Rockford, at which place the paper was printed. Several times had
Tom remembered Carrie in this way, and now carelessly glancing at the
first page, she threw it upon the floor, whence it was taken by Anna,
who examined it more minutely glancing, as a matter of course, to the
marriage notices.

Meantime the captain, who was sitting by 'Lena, casually remarked,
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that I saw Mr. Everett in Washington."

"Mr. Everett--Malcolm Everett?" said 'Lena, quickly.

"Yes, Malcolm Everett," answered the captain.

"He is there spending the honeymoon with his bride!"

'Lena's exclamation of astonishment was prevented by a shriek from
Anna, who had that moment read the announcement of Mr. Everett's
marriage, which was the first in the list. It was Malcolm H.
Everett--there could be no mistake--and when 'Lena reached her
cousin's side, she found that she had fainted. All was now in
confusion, in the midst of which the Captain took his leave, having
first managed to speak a few words in private with Mrs. Livingstone.

"Fortune favors us," was her reply, as she went back to her daughter,
whose long, death-like swoon almost wrung from her the secret.

But Anna revived, and with the first indication of returning
consciousness, the cold, hard woman stifled all her better feelings,
and then tried to think she was acting only for the good of her
child. F