“Is it possible, Miss Anna, that you are so mistaken?”

“How—­why?” asked Emma.  “Is Penoyer a bad man?  What is his occupation?”

“His occupation is well enough,” returned Agnes.  “I would not think less of him for that, were he right in other respects.  However, he was Carrie’s and my own music teacher.”

“Impossible,” said Anna, but at that moment Carrie reentered the room, and, together with Agnes, soon took her leave.

“Penoyer a music teacher, after all his anger at Lily Gordon for suggesting such an idea!” This was now the theme of Juliet and Anna, although they wondered what there was so bad about him—­something, evidently, from Agnes’ manner, and for many days they puzzled their brains in vain to solve the mystery.

CHAPTER V.

RICHARD EVELYN AND HARLEY ASHMORE.

Emma had not long been with us ere her fame reached the little “village over the river,” and drew from thence many calls, both from gentlemen and ladies.  Among these was a Mr. Richard Evelyn and his sister, both of whom had the honor of standing on the topmost round of the aristocratic ladder in the village.  Mr. Evelyn, who was nearly thirty years of age, was a wealthy lawyer, and what is a little remarkable for that craft (I speak from experience), to an unusual degree of intelligence and polish of manners, he added many social and religious qualities.  Many kind hearted mothers, who had on their hands good-for-nothing daughters, wondered how he managed to live without a wife, but he seemed to think it the easiest thing in nature, for, since the death of his parents, his sister Susan had acted in the capacity of his housekeeper.

I have an idea that grandmother, whose disposition was slightly spiced with a love for match-making, bethought herself how admirably Mr. Evelyn and Emma were suited for each other; for after his calls became frequent I heard her many times slyly hint of the possibility of our being able to keep Emma in town always. She probably did not think so; for each time after being teased, she repaired to her room and read for the twentieth time some ominous-looking letters which she had received since being with as.

It was now three weeks since she came, and each day she had gained in health and strength.  Twice had she walked to the woods, accompanied by Mr. Evelyn, once to the schoolhouse, while every day she swung under the old maple.  About this time Agnes began to think of returning home, so Juliet and Anna determined on a party in honor of her and Emma.  It was a bright summer afternoon; and for a wonder I was suffered to remain from school, although I received numerous charges to keep my tongue still, and was again reminded of that excellent old proverb (the composition of some old maid, I know), “Children should be seen and not heard;” so, seated in a corner, my hand pressed closely over my mouth, the better to guard against contingencies, I looked on and thought, with ineffable satisfaction, how much handsomer Cousin Emma was than any one else, although I could not help acknowledging that Carrie never looked more beautiful than she did that afternoon in a neatly-fitting white muslin, with a few rosebuds nestling in her long, glossy curls.