ce for him here: she
had come to make him smile as much by her own delight as by his
satisfaction.

But all this excitement must pass off. And in spite of the general
gladness and gratulation, probably a more lonely, homesick party could
not have been easily found than the Dexter family in their new home.

Dexter could not reproach himself for his removal, as he thought the
matter seriously over. It was a forced removal, and certainly he would
have been without excuse, had he gone into worse quarters instead of
better, since better he could afford. It was not extravagance, but
homesickness, that tormented him.

He was too generous, when all was done, to torment his wife with such
misgivings as he had; and erelong the trouble, for want of nursing,
died, as most of this life's troubles will, after their shabby fashion.
But, indeed, how can they help it? that, too, is the will of Nature.

And was not Dexter himself, in the new neighborhood as in the old? His
customers were still of the same class. But his surroundings were of a
superior character,--there was a better atmosphere prevailing in High
Street, and more light in his house. He did not love darkness better.

Pretty and well-dressed women were to be seen in High Street, and they
never, except by mistake or disaster, wandered through Salt Lane.
Standing in his door, and observing them according to his thoughtful
fashion, Dexter remembered that his daughter was growing rapidly into a
tall, handsome girl, and foresaw that she could not always be a child.
He saw young misses going past with their school-books in their hands,
and if he followed them with his eyes as far as eyes could follow, it
was not for any reason save such as should have made them love and trust
the man. He was thinking so seriously about his daughter, up-stairs at
work with her mother, embroidering scarfs and banners.

He had only Columbia. She learned fast, when she went with Silas Swift
to the school in Salt Lane,--so they all said, and he knew she was fond
of her book. He had no ambition to make a lady of Columbia,--oh, no! But
he was looking forward, according to his nature, and--who could tell
what future might wait on her? He based his expectations for his child
on his own experience. Neither he nor Jessie had ever looked for such
good fortune as they had; and a step farther, must it not be a step
higher, and accordingly new prospects?

Prophecy is unceasing. In what does the prescience