When Uncle Ike got a chance to speak, he said to Huldy, “Thank you, my dear Mrs. Pettengill,” with a strong accent on the Mrs., which made Huldy blush a rosy red, “but I wouldn’t swap my old attic for all the rest of the rooms in the house.  My old blood requires warmth, and I can stand ninety-six without asking for a fan.  When I come up to see you, you can put me in one of your big square rooms, but I sha’n’t stay long, because I don’t like them.”

The noise of wheels was heard, and Huldy ran to the window to look out.

“Oh, it’s Mr. Sawyer,” said she; “and he’s got a young lady with him, and she’s got a trunk.  I wonder who she is?  Do you know, Alice?”

“I don’t know who she is,” replied Alice; “but I can imagine what she’s here for.”

“Is it a secret?” asked Huldy.

“No, not exactly a secret,” replied Alice.  “It’s a business matter.  I have a great many things to be read over to me, and considerable writing to do, and as Mr. Sawyer is going away, I was obliged to have some one to help me.”

“Well!” said Huldy, “you’ll miss Mr. Sawyer when he goes away; I did.  Now you mustn’t get jealous, Mr. Pettengill,” she said to ’Zekiel; “you know Mr. Sawyer and I were never in love with each other.  That was all village gossip, started by, you know who, and as for Mr. Sawyer liking Lindy Putnam, or she liking him, I know better.  She’s never got over the loss of her brother Jones, who, it seems, wasn’t her real brother, after all; and Samanthy Green told me the other day that Lindy wanted to marry him.”

“I think matters are getting rather too personal for me,” said Uncle Ike, rising.  “I may get drawn into it if I stay any longer.  I always liked Lindy Putnam myself.”  And the old gentleman laughed heartily as he left the room.

“Well, I guess you and me’d better be goin’, if we want to be home at dinner time,” said ’Zekiel to Huldy.  Then, going to his sister, he took her in his arms and kissed her on the cheek.  “You know, Alice,” said he, “that I ain’t much of a talker, but I shall never forget how good you’ve been to me and Huldy, and if the old house burns down or you get lonesome, you’ll always find the latchstring out up to the new house, an’ there’ll be a room, an’ board, an’ good care for you as long as you want to stay.  Eh, Huldy?” said ’Zekiel, turning to his wife.

“You know, ’Zekiel,” replied the impulsive Huldy, “I’ve said a dozen times that I wished Alice would come and live with us.  Won’t you, Alice?” she added.  “I never had a sister, and I think it would be delightful to have one all to myself, especially,” she added archly, “when I have her brother, too.”

“I could never live in that house,” said Alice, with a slight shudder; “besides, I think my future path in life is being marked out for me by the hand of Fate, which I am powerless to resist.  I am afraid that it will take me away from you, my dear ones; but if it does, I shall always love you both, and pray for your happiness and success.”