,
she had stuffed her turkey, and put it in the oven, and kneaded her
pudding, for, though but one would be present at the dinner, and that
herself, her conscience would not have acquitted her, if she had not
made all the preparations to which she had been accustomed on such
occasions.

This done, she sat down to her knitting, casting a glance every now and
then at the oven to make sure that all was going on well. It was a quiet
morning, and Miss Hetty began to think to the clicking of her knitting
needles.

"After all," thought she, "it's rather solitary taking dinner alone, and
that on Thanksgiving day. I remember a long time ago, when my father was
living, and my brothers and sisters, what a merry time we used to have
round eth table. But they are all dead, and I--I alone am left!"

Miss Hetty sighed, but after a while the recollections of those old
times returned. She tried to shake them off, but they had a fascination
about them after all, and would not go at her bidding.

"There used to be another there," thought she, "Nick Anderson. He, too,
I fear, is dead."

Hetty heaved a thoughtful sigh, and a faint color came into her cheeks.
She had reason. This Nicholas Anderson had been a medical student,
apprenticed to her father, or rather placed with him to be prepared for
his profession. He was, perhaps, a year older than Hetty, and had
regarded her with more than ordinary warmth of affection. He had, in
fact, proposed to her, and had been conditionally accepted, on a year's
probation. The trouble was, he was a little disposed to be wild, and
being naturally of a lively and careless temperament, did not exercise
sufficient discrimination in the choice of his associates. Hetty had
loved him as warmly as one of her nature could love. She was not one who
would be drawn away beyond the dictates of reason and judgment by the
force of affection. Still it was not without a feeling of deep
sorrow--deeper than her calm manner led him to suspect--that at the end
of the year's probation, she informed Anderson that the result of his
trial was not favorable to his suit, and that henceforth he must give
up all thoughts of her.

To his vehement asseverations, promises and protestations, she returned
the same steady and inflexible answer, and, at the close of the
interview, he left her, quite as full of indignation against her as of
grief for his rejection.

That night his clothing was packed up, and lowered from the window,