e was something in her sister's manner which
she could not define, and as Julia seemed anxious to avoid her, she spent
much of her time with Mrs. Miller, who each day grew fonder of her little
"Kentucky sister," as she often called her in imitation of her brother.

Meanwhile Julia spent all her leisure hours with Mrs. Carrington, to whom
she confided her feelings and wishes. Mrs. Carrington was not displeased
to find that Julia was determined to break the engagement between Dr.
Lacey and Fanny, and secretly hoped she would succeed. Not that she wished
to aid Julia in securing the doctor, for such was not her intention.
Neither did she look upon such an event as possible, for she felt sure
that Dr. Lacey never would fancy Julia, even if there were no Fannys in
the world; and supposing he did, she could easily remedy it by exposing
Julia's wickedness.

In due course of time a letter arrived for Fanny from Dr. Lacey. It was a
well-filled sheet and so full of affection and kind suggestions for her
improvement, that Fanny felt an increased pleasure in thinking that she
was the object of Dr. Lacey's love. Julia watched her with an evil eye, as
she read the letter, and when she saw the look of joy which lit up every
feature, she thought, "Yes, read on and enjoy it--do--for you'll not get
many more such!"

That day after school she started out for the purpose of laying the
foundation for the fulfillment of a part of her plans. There was in the
post-office a clerk whose name was Joseph Dunn. He was an awkward,
rawboned young man, about six feet two inches high. Until within a few
months he had lived near Mr. Middleton. He had a yellow face, yellow hair
and yellow teeth, the latter of which projected over his under lip. He
also drove a very yellow horse and rode in a yellow buggy. In his own
estimation he was perfectly irresistible, and imagined he had only to say
the word and all the girls in the country would eagerly accept the offer
of being mistress of his fancy colored horse and person. For Fanny he had
conceived a violent passion and wondered much that she should repel all
his serious advances. At last he wrote her a letter saying that on a
certain afternoon he would visit her and make a formal offer of his hand.
He bade her weigh the matter seriously, so that she would have no one to
blame but herself, if she should ever regret answering in the affirmative.

Fanny was very much annoyed by this letter and when on the afte