350 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



the name of the little widow. She was slightly under the 

 medium height, with a finely proportioned person and a 

 well-formed face ; indeed, she was considered by all to be 

 as fine-looking a lady as any of equal age. 



When I renewed my visits, I found her as agreeable as 

 usual, and spent some pleasant hours with her. But a 

 squall was gathering. I did not see her for three days, 

 when, apprehending that some mischief-maker had been 

 at work, and not knowing but that opposition was coming 

 from the landlord and his wife, I asked him what had be- 

 come of Mrs, Smith, as her place at the table was filled by 

 a young woman. He said that Mrs. Smith and himself 

 had had a little family dispute, which he did not wish to 

 make public. So it went on until the evening of the third 

 day, when, observing her standing at one of the front doors, 

 I went to her, and inquired what had been the cause of her 

 absence. She said that she did not wish the landlord to 

 see her down stairs, for she had not left her room before 

 for three days. I asked her if she would meet me that 

 evening in the ladies' parlor, as I was anxious to hear 

 what was going on. She replied that she would ; that 

 she was her own mistress, and would do as she pleased ; 

 and that she would inform me as to what we had to 

 depend on. 



When the time arrived, I went to the parlor, and found 

 her there. She told me that her son-in-law had scolded 

 her for keeping my company, and had threatened her with 

 trouble if she continued to do so ; to which she replied 

 that she would do what she thought was for her best inte- 

 rest, and that she would not stay in Cumberland if she was 

 uO be treated like a servant. 



We then agreed to marry, and ask nobody's consent 

 about it ; but in about half-an-hour in came her daughter, 

 very angry, and ordered her mother to walk out of that 

 room. I told her not to be in a passion, as I was only 



