“Yes, indeed! because it was for no vice or crime that they give him that surname, but because it was said no man born of woman could have exhibited such frantic courage or performed such prodigies of valor as he did.  Well, anyway, that was the origin of our family name.  From Bred-in-hell it became Bredi-nell, then Bredenell, and finally, as it still sounded rough for the name of a respectable family, they have in these latter generations softened it down into Brudenell.  So you see!  I should like to detect the Mervins looking down upon us!” concluded Nora, with a pretty assumption of dignity.

“But, my dear, you are not a Brudenell.”

“I don’t care!  My husband is, and Herman says a wife takes rank from her husband!  As Nora Worth, or as Mrs. Herman Brudenell, of course I am the very same person; but then, ignorant as I may be, I know enough of the world to feel sure that those who despised Nora Worth will not dare to slight Mrs. Herman Brudenell!”

“Take care!  Take care, Nora, dear!  ’Pride goeth before a fall, and a haughty temper before destruction!’” said Hannah, in solemn warning.

“Well, I will not be proud if I can help it; yet—­how hard to help it!  But I will not let it grow on me.  I will remember my humble origin and that I am undeserving of anything better.”

At this moment the latch of the door was raised and Jem Morris presented himself, taking off his hat and bowing low, as he said: 

“Evening, Miss Hannah; evening, Miss Nora.  Hopes you finds yourselves well?”

“Why, law, professor, is that you?  You have just come in time.  Hannah wants you to put a new bottom in her tin saucepan and a new cover on her umbrella, and to mend her coffee-mill; it won’t grind at all!” said Nora.

“Yes, miss; soon’s ever I gets the time.  See, I’ve got a well to dig at Colonel Mervin’s, and a chimney to build at Major Blackistone’s, and a hearth to lay at Commodore Burgh’s, and a roof to put over old Mrs. Jones’; and see, that will take me all the rest of the week,” objected Jem.

“But can’t you take the things home with you and do them at night?” inquired Hannah.

“Yes, miss; but you see there’s only three nights more this week, and I am engaged for all!  To-night I’ve got to go and sit up long of old Jem Brown’s corpse, and to-morrow night to play the fiddle at Miss Polly Hodges’ wedding, and the next night I promised to be a waiter at the college ball, and even Sunday night aint free, ’cause our preacher is sick and I’ve been invited to take his place and read a sermon and lead the prayer!  So you see I couldn’t possibly mend the coffee-mill and the rest till some time next week, nohow!”

“I tell you what, Morris, you have the monopoly of your line of business in this neighborhood, and so you put on airs and make people wait.  I wish to goodness we could induce some other professor of odd jobs to come and settle among us,” said Nora archly.