see for a long
time. It gave him access to the fine house, and he stalked about there
an hour looking at the pictures and the splendid furniture while its
owner was taking an airing. The general opinion is that the object of
his visit was accomplished before his Excellency's return."

"Poor fellow! One can't blame him so very much," returned the listener
with a complacent smile, offering his gold-mounted snuff-box to the
speaker before helping himself generously from it. "But what was his
scheme?"

"Something the most absurd you ever listened to. He proposed, if other
people would furnish the money, to establish a public coach from this
city to Boston, to run as often as once a week, and, after the first
expense, to support itself from the travellers it carries; each one is
to pay a few shillings. Where did he expect the travellers to come from?
Gentlemen would never travel in other than private conveyances?" And
these representatives of conservatism threw back their heads and laughed
over the absurdity of the lightning express in embryo. Governor
Wentworth standing before the fire was commenting on some of Governor
Shirley's measures, giving his own judgment on the matter, with a
directness more bold than wise, and the circle about him were discussing
affairs with the freedom of speech that Americans have always used in
political affairs, when a stir of expectation behind them made them take
breath, and glance at the person entering the room. It was the minister.

"He has come, you see," whispered the lady to her neighbor of the
forebodings. After greeting him, the group about the fire went back to
their discussions. It had been the good parson's horse then, which they
had heard tearing up the road in hot haste; they had not dreamed that so
much speed was in the nag. But Master Shurtleff was probably a little
late and had been afraid of keeping the bride and groom waiting for him.
Master and Mistress Archdale were there; all the company, indeed, but
the four members of it most important that morning, Katie and Stephen,
the bridesmaid, Mistress Royal, and the best man, a young friend of
Archdale's. After a few moments in which conversation lagged through
expectancy, the door opened again.

"Ah! here they are. No, only one, alone. How strange!"

Every eye was turned upon Elizabeth Royal as she came in with a face too
concentrated upon the suggestion under which she was acting to see
anything about her. Without sign