d," said Hannah.

"Law, child, I wish it would; if it would do my head half as much good
as it is a-doing of my insides this blessed minute! after being out in
the snow, too! Why, it makes me feel as good as preaching all over!"
smiled the old woman, slowly sniffing and sipping the elixir of life,
while her bleared eyes shone over the rim of the cup like phosphorus.

"But how came you out in the snow, Mrs. Jones?" inquired Hannah.

"Why, my dear, good child, when did ever I stop for weather? I've been
a-monthly nussing up to Colonel Mervin's for the last four weeks, and my
time was up to-day, and so I sat out to come home; and first I stopped
on my way and got my tea along of Mrs. Spicer, at Brudenell, and now I
s'pose I shall have to stop all night along of you. Can you 'commodate
me?"

"Of course we can," said Hannah. "You can sleep with me and Nora; you
will be rather crowded, but that won't matter on a cold night; anyway,
it will be better than for you to try to get home in this snow-storm."

"Thank y', children; and now, to pay you for that, I have got sich a
story to tell you! I've been saving of it up till I got dry and warm,
'cause I knew if I did but give you a hint of it, you'd be for wanting
to know all the particulars afore I was ready to tell 'em! But now I can
sit myself down for a good comfortable chat! And it is one, too, I tell
you! good as a novel!" said the old woman, nodded her head knowingly.

"Oh, what is it about, Mrs. Jones?" inquired Hannah and Nora in a
breath, as they stopped knitting and drew their chairs nearer together.

"Well, then," said the dame, hitching her chair between the sisters,
placing a hand upon each of their laps, and looking from one to the
other--"what would ye give to know, now?"

"Nonsense! a night's lodging and your breakfast!" laughed Nora.

"And ye'll get your story cheap enough at that! And now listen and open
your eyes as wide as ever you can!" said the dame, repeating her
emphatic gestures of laying her hands heavily upon the knees of the
visitors and looking intently from one eager face to the other.
"Mr.--Herman--Brudenell--have--got--a--wife! There, now! What d'ye
think o' that! aint you struck all of a heap?"

No, they were not; Hannah's face was perfectly calm; Nora's indeed was
radiant, not with wonder, but with joy!

"There, Hannah! What did I tell you!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Brudenell has
spoken to him and he has owned his marriage! But dear Mrs. Jo