The second and yet more deliberate perusal over, she folded the sheet with lingering touches to every corner, thrust it into the envelope, and drew it forth again to peep once more at the signature—­“Forever and truly, your own Frederic;” pressed it to her lips, then to her heart, and bestowed it securely in her writing-desk, before she unclosed her brother’s epistle.

With her finger upon the seal—­a big drop of red wax, like a petrified blood-gout, stamped with the Aylett coat-of-arms—­she leaned through the casement to watch for the flutter of Rosa’s white dress among the vari-colored maples shading the lawn—­sang a clear, sweet second to the song that ascended to her eyrie: 

    “Why weep ye by the tide, ladye? 
       Why weep ye by the tide? 
     I’ll wed ye to my youngest son,
       And ye shall be his bride. 
     And ye shall be his bride, ladye,
       Sae comely to be seen;
     But aye she loot the tears down fa’
       For lock o’ Hazeldean.”

“My dear Mabel” [wrote the lord of Ridgeley]—­“I wish you, so soon as yon receive this, to communicate with Jenkyns and Smythe concerning the new parlor furniture I ordered from them.  In talking it over, Clara and I have decided that it had better be covered with maroon, instead of green, as you advised.  I enclose a sample of damask which they must match exactly.  I would I write direct to them, but think it likely that Jenkyns, the managing man of the firm, is in your neighborhood at this time.  He told me, when I was in town, of his intention to visit Mrs. Wilson, his sister, I believe, who lives on the White Oak road, about three miles from Ridgeley.  Send for him, and put the samples into his hands.  If he cannot get the precise color in Richmond, let him order it from New York.

“The carpets for the parlor, dining-room, and Clara’s chamber I have bought in Lowell.  Clara accompanied me thither, and gave me the benefit of her taste in the selection.  I have resolved, also, to purchase wallpaper in Boston to match these.  Say as much to Jenkyns.  I shall have the boxes directed to his care and instruct him further respecting making the carpets and hanging the paper when I return.

“Ask Roberts (the mason) whether it will be practicable to build a fire-place in the large lower hall.  Another chimney would be an unsightly appendage to the roof, but Clara agrees with me, since studying the plan of the house I brought on for her inspection, that a flue could be run through the closet in your room into the rear one of the west chimneys.  She thinks the hall must be freezing cold in winter, and caught eagerly at my idea that a blazing fire at one end would lighten the sombre effect of the oaken wainscot and lofty ceiling.  I proposed to tear down the panelling, but she was horrified at the thought.  I could not take more pride and interest in preserving the antique character of the home of my forefathers