Mutely, and tearfully even, was my skill in setting forth the magnitude of the wrong, from which Mr. Burress had been instrumental in saving me, acknowledged by my audience, not excepting Jenny the house-maid, who, arrested on the threshold, stood wiping her eyes with her neat cotton apron in token of sympathy.

“Caleb will be wondering what has become of me, and tired out of watching if I don’t go home at once,” said Mr. Burress, after his emotion had subsided, and accepting gracefully the civic crown with which he had been metaphorically rewarded.  Mine was in store, but how could he dream of this?

A statue of the Greek Slave, a copy made by a master-hand, soon adorned his window, and his bride wore pearls of price, the joint gift of Miriam and Wardour Wentworth, a twelvemonth later, when a mistress of the emporium was brought home, much to the solace of Caleb, who was remembered by us also, let me not forget to add.

Truly kind and benevolent as he was, Napoleon Burress had a despotic manner, which relaxed beneath the genial smile of Marian March.

“I must go, indeed, my dear sir” (to Dr. Pemberton), “but this night will be memorable in my annals.  God bless you all!  Farewell.  Afraid of an encounter?  Not I Like Horatio Cockleshell of old, I learned to carry pistols constantly about me when I had to pass the bridge every night as a youngster.  My parents lived in Hamilton village.  I still keep up the custom, and therefore pay my fine yearly to the council.”

When at last we separated, the clock was on the stroke of one, and I went to a clean and quiet chamber above the little study, where a bright fire was burning, but whence the smell of lavender, which always accompanies the fresh sheets of Quakerhood, still prevailed with a summer-like fragrance.  The attentive house-maid disrobed me, and bathed my chilled and frosted feet and swollen hands in water tempered with alcohol.  Then arraying me in a mob-cap and snowy cotton gown, the property of good Mrs. Jessup, placed me in the soft nest prepared for sojourners beneath that homely but hospitable roof.

“I hope thee is comfortable, Miriam Monfort,” said Mrs. Jessup, after I was ensconced in bed, “Why, thy face is the same after all, that I remember when thou wert a very little girl, and used to walk out with Mrs. Austin.  She is well, I hope?” settling the bed-cover.

“I cannot tell you, Mrs. Jessup.  I must rather ask such questions of you.  When did you see her last? and Mabel—­do you know my little sister?”

“Oh, yes, I know her perfectly well by sight.  Let me see, it was Sabbath before last that, just as I was coming out of Friends’ meeting-house, I saw Mabel Monfort, a pretty maiden, truly, walking with her step-sister, I think, and a tall and stately gentleman.  But Mrs. Austin I have not seen since last rose-time, and then only in passing.  She seemed well, but wore a troubled face.”

“Yes, yes; she was troubled, no doubt, things were so altered; and, if her heart had not turned to stone, she must have thought of me sometimes regretfully.  But all bids fair now, Mrs. Jessup, both for me and her, and for Mabel.  For the rest, let them go—­they are fiends!”