“Good bye, sister!  I never thought to leave you in this way.  I hope we shall never see a darker hour.  I shall send for my trunks presently.  Good bye!”

“Good bye!” replied Marcia, mechanically.  “You have a brave gallant!  See to it that he is not compelled by Destiny to make love to you on the way!”

Greenleaf, with his companion, descended the steps to the street, making no reply to this amiable God-speed.

Marcia shut the door, and with her brother returned to the parlor.  At the head of the stairs that led to the dining-room stood Number Two and Biddy, who in stupid wonder had witnessed the scenes just described.

“Bridget,” exclaimed the enraged mistress, “what are you staring at?  Come here!  Pah! you have been drinking!  You, too, you creature!”

Number Two bowed with maudlin politeness.

“You-do-m’injustice, Ma’am.  On’y a smallsup, a littlesup, ponmyhonorasgen’l’man.”

“Bridget, do you pack up your baggage and be off!  Rioting and feasting in the time of our trouble!  Ungrateful hussy!”

“I’ll do that same, Miss Marshy; but me waages, if ye plaze, Miss.”

“Get your wages, if you can.  You’ve broken more crockery and glass, and wasted more wines and preserves, than you ever earned.”

“That’s always the way, Miss, I’ve noticed, when missuses was o’ mind to get claar of payin’ the honest dues.  But me brother”—­

“Be off to your brother!  But first go and cool your head under the water-faucet.”

Muttering and whining, the disconsolate Biddy crept up to the attic for her scanty wardrobe.

“Here, fellow!” said Marcia to Number Two, whose foolish smiles at any other time would have been ludicrous,—­“go into the kitchen and get sober.”

He obeyed like a spaniel.

“Now, Henry,” said Marcia, rather more composed, “let us do something at once.  It’s plain that we can’t live here for the house will be stripped; and in our circumstances we would not stay, if we could.  That fellow is so far stupefied that we can save what we can carry away.  If you have any spirit left, help me pack our clothes and such things as can be put into our trunks.  Come! are you dreaming?”

He started up and followed her like a child.  With superhuman energy, she ransacked the house and gathered the most valuable articles.  Plate, linen, dresses, Parian ware, books, furs, and jewelry were packed, as securely as the time allowed.  A carriage and a baggage-wagon were ordered, and in an incredibly short period they were ready to start.

“We have forgotten Charles,” said Mr. Sandford.

“True enough,” said Marcia.  “Go and call him; he is too handsome to be spared from our party just now.  Tell him to bring his clothes.”

The penitent came down, reluctantly; his nose was still puffy, and the crescent under his eye rather more livid; muffled and cloaked, he was led to the carriage.  Mr. Sandford then remembered the cherished parchment certificates and votes of thanks,—­his title-deeds to distinction.