into his mind nevertheless.

"When you have done examining my hand, Mr. Tom Fuller, please give it
back," said Elsie. "It don't amount to much, but, as the Scotchwoman
observed of her clergyman's head, 'it's some good to the owner.'"

Tom dropped the little hand as if the pink fingers had burned his palm.

"I'm always the awkwardest fellow alive!" cried he, dismally. "And how
is Bessie, dear girl?"

Mellen roused himself.

"I will call her," he said; "she is quite well, and will be delighted to
see you."

He went into the house in search of his wife, and Elsie began to tease
her unfortunate victim, a pastime of which she never wearied. It seemed
to her the funniest thing in the world to make that great creature blush
and stammer, to lead him on to the perpetration of absurd things, to
laugh at him, to bewilder his honest head; for any pain he might suffer,
she considered it no more than she did the sorrows of a Fejee Islander,
or the chirp of her canary.

"Have you come down here prepared to be agreeable?" she asked.
"Remember, I expect you to devote yourself completely to my service--to
wait on me like the most devoted of knights."

"I'd stand on my head if you asked it," answered Tom, impetuously.

"How deliciously odd you would look!" cried Elsie; "you shall try it
some day; I only hope it won't leave you with a brain fever, but then it
couldn't, Tom,--where is the capital for such a disease to come from?"

"You may tease me as much as you like," said Tom, "if you'll only say
you are glad to see me."

"Oh, you will be invaluable," replied Elsie; "I was getting bored with
watching other people's love-making. Can you row a boat and teach me to
play billiards, and be generally nice and useful?"

"Just try me, that's all!" said Tom.

"Don't be afraid. I shall put you to every possible use; you may be
quite certain that your position will not be a sinecure."

"Then you'll make me the happiest fellow alive!"

"You don't know what you are saying; you don't know what your words
mean," cried Elsie, with one of her bewildering glances.

"Indeed I do! Oh, Miss Elsie, if you only could--"

Elsie interrupted him, as her sister came out on the portico, followed
by Mellen. "There is Bessie!"

Elizabeth was rejoiced to see honest Tom; he was the only relative she
possessed, and she loved him like a sister. She was thoroughly
acquainted with his character, and honored him for the sterling goodness
concealed by