t, in opposing of his going to Blue Cliffs
along of his sister to-morrow," complained the old lady.

"Riddle-me-riddle-me-ree! I know no more of what you're talking than the
fish of Zuyder Zee!"

"Why-why-why then this is what I'm a talking about. Can-can-can't you
see that Emma Cavendish is perfectly wrapped up in Laura Lytton? She's
as fon-fon-fond of her as ever she can be. And Emma Cavendish is the
most beau-beau-beautiful girl and the richest heiress in the whole
state. And Alden Lytton is one of the han-han-handsomest young men I
ever saw. And if he goes with his sister to Blue Cliffs--_don't you
see?_"

"No, I don't," said honest, obtuse John.

"Well, then, the gal that is so fond of the sis-sis-sister might grow to
be equally fond of the handsome bro-bro-brother. _Now do you see?_"

"Oh, I see!" exclaimed John, with a look of profound enlightenment.

"And I hope you won't go and stand into the light of your own dear
nephew by raising up of any objections to his going along of his sister
to Blue Cliffs," added the old lady.

"_I_ stand in the light of my own poor, dear, dead brother's son!
'Tain't likely!" exclaimed Uncle Jacky, with an injured air.

"No, John, I don't think it is. And so, I hope, instead of
oppo-po-po-opposing on him, you'll encourage him to go along of his
sister to Blue Cliffs to-morrow," said the old lady.

"Mother, I shall do what is right," answered John.

"And lookee here, Jacky! Don't you let on to Alden that any on us have
such a thought as him going there to court the heiress, for ef you do,
he's so high and mighty he'd see us all furder fust before he'd budge a
step to go to Blue Cliffs, sister or no sister. So mind what I tell you,
John."

"Mother, I will do all that is right," repeated John, with pompous
dignity.

"I only hope as you will. And so good-night, my son," said the old
woman, as she lighted her bed-room taper and left the room.

Laura came down-stairs early the next morning, and found her brother
alone in the big parlor.

And then she showed him Emma Cavendish's letter.

And when he had read it through, she said, quite piteously:

"Alden, I do want to go back and spend the rest of the Easter holidays
at Blue Cliffs, for I love Emma Cavendish better than anybody else in
the whole world except yourself. And I hate to disappoint her. But I
equally hate to leave you, Alden. So I do wish you would make up your
mind to accept Mrs. Cavendish's invitation and a