act.  This was noticed more than once by Algernon; who, perhaps, more than either of the others, felt from the first that strong dislike, that suspicious repugnance to the stranger, which can only be explained as one of the mysteries of nature, whereby we are sometimes warned of whom we should shun, as the instinct of an animal makes known to it its inveterate foe; and though he strove to think there was nothing of evil meant by a circumstance apparently so trifling—­that the glance of the stranger was simply one of admiration or curiosity—­yet the thought that it might be otherwise—­that he might be planning something wicked to the fair being before him—­haunted his mind like some hideous vision, made him for the time more distrustful, more watchful than ever, and was afterward reverted to with a painful sensation.  The features of Algernon also exhibited an expression of remorse and hopeless melancholy; the reason whereof the reader, who has now been made acquainted with the secret, will readily understand.  The face of Ella, too, was paler than usual—­more sad and thoughtful—­so much so, that it was remarked by Mrs. Younker, who immediately instituted the necessary inquiries concerning her health, and explained to her at some length the most approved method of curing a cold, in case that were the cause.  In striking contrast to the sober looks of the others—­for Younker himself was a man who seldom exhibited other than a sedate expression—­was the general appearance and manner of Isaac.  He seemed exceedingly exhilarated in spirits, yet kept his eyes down, and appeared at times very absent minded.  Whatever his thoughts were, it was evident they were pleasing ones; for he would smile to himself, and occasionally display a comical nervousness, as though he had some very important secret to make known, yet was not ready to communicate it.  This had been observed in him through the day; and was so different from his usual manner, and so much beyond any conjecture his mother could form of the cause, that at last her curiosity became so excited, that to restrain it longer was like holding down the safety-valve to an over-heated steam boiler; and, accordingly, taking advantage of another mysterious smile, which Isaac chanced to display while looking at a large piece of corn bread, already on its way to his capacious jaws, she exclaimed: 

“Why, what on yarth is the matter with you, Isaac, that you keep a grinning, and grinning, and fidgetting about all to yourself so much like a plaguy nateral born fool for?”

So loudly, suddenly and unexpectedly was this question put—­for all had been silent some minutes previous—­that Isaac started, blushed, dropped the bread—­already near enough to his teeth to have felt uncomfortable, had it been capable of feeling—­endeavored to catch it—­blundered—­and finally upset his plate and contents into his lap, in a manner so truly ridiculous, that Ella and Mrs. Younker, unable to restrain their mirth, laughed heartily, while the stranger and Algernon smiled, and the stern features of the father relaxed into an expression of quiet humor seldom seen on his countenance.