eadow again at the
bidding of Jerome Devonhough!"

Bravo for Mell! Strong in this determination, she is now comparatively
safe, except for the one menacing fear, that this sentimental feeling
she has for Jerome may interfere with the more serious business of
life. Love was all well enough in its way, but what this country
maiden panted for, was a new life on a higher plane, with or without
love. It was the thing her education demanded. It was the thing she
intended to accomplish.

After all, she went to bed in very good spirits. She was tolerably
sure of bringing Jerome to her own terms, and if not--well, not to
make a sad subject likewise tedious, Mell, in spite of all her love
for Jerome, was as much for sale as ever.

CHAPTER III.

A TOTAL ECLIPSE.

Nothing ever turns out just as we expect.

The next day promised to be long to Mell, but before the old tall
clock in the corner tolled out the hour of ten, something happened
which gave to its every moment a pair of golden wings. Miss Josey
Martlett, one of those ancient angels who personate youth, who
endeavor to assimilate facial statistics and unfledged manners, who
are interested in everything under the sun except their own business,
came driving up to old man Creecy's farm. Under this lady's auspices
it had been, and through her material assistance, that the sprightly
little country girl had been mercifully snatched out of regions of
ignorance and darkness, and maintained for a number of years at a
famous boarding-school, where, among other things, she had been taught
to worship the beautiful in all its forms, to cultivate the refined in
all its processes, and to execrate the common and the ugly in all its
manifestations. A defective curriculum--for what is more common than
human frailty; what uglier than, oftentimes, duty?

Let us hasten to concede that old man Creecy has some show of reason
on his side. Not all education educates. The best may furnish us with
feet and hands, eyes and wings, trained members, fit implements,
shields, anchorage, strongholds, and stepping-stones; but also
hiding-places, weak spots, loopholes, clogs, and stumbling-blocks.

"I would stay, but I can't," protested Miss Josey, as Mell insisted
upon her taking off her hat and sitting down in the most comfortable
rocker in the house, while she herself sat beside her and toyed with
the visitor's hand, and fanned away the heat; and then ran for a glass
of fresh buttermilk, and bro