at he had seen and done since he left home; but the
children maintained their gravity and silence, though Oscar tried hard
to break the ice of restraint with Jerry, who sat by his side. A
strange face was an unusual thing among them, and they could not get
over it in a moment.

After supper, Mrs. Preston and her oldest daughter cleared off the
table and washed the dishes; James and Jerry went out to the barn; Mr.
Preston sat down to a table to examine some papers he had in his
pocket-book; while Harriet and Mary remained, to keep Oscar company.
The latter now began to make advances towards his youngest cousin, who
was the prettiest and most interesting of the children. A little
coaxing brought her to his side.

"Do you know what my name is, Sissy?" he inquired.

"Yes; it's Oscar," she replied.

"Oscar what?" he inquired.

"Cousin Oscar," she answered, after a little hesitation.

"Yes, but that is n't all of it," replied Oscar; "don't you know the
other part of it--Cousin Oscar----what?"

Mary looked thoughtful a moment, and then replied, in a confident tone,
"Boston."

Oscar could not help laughing at this amusing mistake, and Mary,
feeling hurt at the liberty he took, began to move away; but he held
her by the hand, saying:

"No, don't go yet, Sissy--you got my name almost right, after all.
Cousin Oscar Preston, from Boston,--that was what you meant to say, was
n't it?"

"Yes," replied Mary.

"Now tell me what your name is?" continued Oscar.

"Mary Preston," she replied.

"And how old are you?"

"I 'm going to be six next winter," she answered, with animation.

"Very well,--you 're a smart little girl," replied Oscar.

"How old be you?" inquired Mary, now turning the table upon her
questioner.

"I 'm fourteen," said Oscar.

"You 're a smart little boy," added Mary, with a roguish twinkle in her
eye, and she darted out of the room with a merry laugh.

After that, there was no more shyness between Mary and Oscar. With the
older children, however, Oscar did not get acquainted quite so easily,
particularly with the girls. He made but little progress with any of
them that evening, until he retired with Jerry, with whom he was to
sleep during his visit. After they had got into bed, Jerry's tongue
was loosed, and before they went to sleep his reserve had almost
entirely vanished.

CHAPTER XV.

BROOKDALE.

The next morning the air was extremely raw and chilly, and there were
strong i