delight.

"Oh, you provoking creature," cried Elsie, "do tell us what it is?"

"Tom must have found a diamond mine," said Mellen.

"He has," returned Elizabeth.

"Bless me," said Elsie, "will he go about covered with diamonds?"

"His old uncle has left him a fortune," explained Elizabeth.

Elsie fairly screamed, and clapped her little hands with graceful fury.

"Who would have thought it! Only fancy Tom Fuller rich! Why he'll be
robbed every day of his life."

"How much is it?" asked Mellen. "I am very glad. Tom is a good fellow
and deserves it."

He had entirely got over any suspicion that Elizabeth might ever have
cared for her cousin, and was prepared to rejoice in Tom's good fortune.

"How much--how much?" broke in Elsie.

"Thirty thousand a year," replied Elizabeth; "Tom is in a state of
bewilderment that makes his letter sadly incoherent; he never expected a
penny; his uncle changed his will at the last moment."

"But wasn't he your uncle, too?" asked Elsie.

"No; he was aunt Fuller's brother."

"Oh, do let me see the letter," said Elsie.

Elizabeth gave it to her, but between excitement and his usual odd
penmanship Tom's epistle was quite a puzzle to unpractised eyes, and
Elsie went into shrieks over it.

"He promised to bring me a bracelet," said she, "diamonds it shall be
now. If he brings anything less I'll send him straight back."

"But when is he coming?" Mellen asked.

"I can't make out," said Elsie; "here is something at the end about I
shall burn--no return--at the--the--can that be Millennium?"

"Scarcely, I should think," said Mellen, laughingly.

"Try and make it out, Bess," said Elsie, giving her the letter.

Elizabeth took it, examined the lines to which she pointed, and after a
moment's study read it correctly.

"I shall return by the Hammonia."

"Why that's due now," said Elsie.

Elizabeth glanced at the date.

"The letter has been delayed," she said; "he may be here already."

"Oh, it will be beautiful to see him," said Elsie; "why, he will give
all he is worth to the person that asks first. Won't it be fun!"

"You shall not tease him, Elsie, as you formerly did," said Elizabeth;
"I will not have it."

"But I will," said Elsie. "Thirty thousand a year! Good gracious, it
will seem as if he had fallen from the moon. Of course I'll tease him
half to death."

CHAPTER XXX.

THE WIDOW'S FASCINATIONS.

About midday Mrs. Harrington arrived with a little part