32 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



West. It seemed to me that if he had spoken crossly tft 

 me I should have fainted on the floor." 



This caused her to laugh heartily at my expense, which 

 seemed to make her still more dear to me than she was 

 before. By this time I had got my nerves quieted ; and 

 an interesting discourse sprang up concerning our school 

 pastimes, and the great probability of our never enjoying 

 the like pleasures again. By this I fancied I could bring 

 her to an acknowledgment of what I thought I had seen 

 before in her countenance ; but, firm to herself, she would 

 not gratify me with any admission of her affection. 



However, we spent a very pleasant evening together, 

 and promised to see each other for a parting farewell the 

 next morning. At, or rather before it was light, the old 

 man left home without saying a word to Mary or I . This 

 was pleasing to us both ; and I believe the whole family 

 were glad that he was gone, as it gave us time to finish 

 any little thing we had left unsaid the evening before. 

 After breakfast I began to get ready for a start, all the 

 time watching every motion Mary made ; but she kept 

 firm till the old lady had made me a present of a fine pair 

 of socks and a beautiful pair of woolen gloves. She told 

 me that she had knit the socks herself, and that Mary had 

 knit the gloves for me ; but that she was too bashful to 

 give them to me. Mary was not present when the old 

 lady handed over the very welcome gifts ; but she soon 

 appeared again, and helped to stow away my small stock 

 of clothing. This done, I bade good-bye to all but Mary, 

 who said she would accompany me as far as the bars. Off 

 we started for the bars, which were only a few steps from 

 the door, and here we had another long talk, though we 

 both kept off from the subject of marriage ; for I really 

 did not intend to return. In our discourse, I told her it 

 would perhaps be a long time before I should be back to 



