The Lady of the Aroostook

then took a chair at the other end and fell into the attitude of the day before, when he sat in the parlor with Lydia and Miss Maria waiting for the stage; his mouth

dropped on the tin, was lost in their multitude; then she said, with a sharp, que

, as if here now were something he had made up his mind to stand

s a woman, as far forth as that g

to thinkin' whether she mightn't get to feelin' rather l

go to the stewardess. That Mrs. Bland that spent the summer at the Parkers' last year was always tellin' how they went to the stewardess for most everything, and she give he

s, Captain Jenness said; they only hav

asked Miss Ma

. They've got

h a gruff shortness peculiar to her, "Well, then, she can go to th

fessing to sin before the whole congregatio

across the table on to the floor. "Well, who in Time"-the expression was strong, but

was pickin' the pease for you, my mind got to dwellin' on Lyddy, and then it come to me all at once: there she was, th

But what I think is-" Miss Maria paused, and did not say what she thought; but it was evidently not the social aspect of the matter which was u

ier is what the captain said about

men?" aske

em!" retorted the old ma

n that stopped on the wharf and

hey said, 'We're goin'.' And he said, 'When you comin' aboard?' and he told 'em he was goin' to haul out this mornin' at three o'clock. And they asked what tug, and he told 'em, and they fixed it up between 'em all then that they was to come

. She looked all about the kitchen for inspiration, and even cast a searching glance into the wood-shed. Suddenly sh

front door, her father lagging after h

ey did not shake hands. He wore a black alpaca coat, and waistcoat of farmer's satin; his hat was dark stra

no time in laying the case before the minister. She ended by saying, "Father, h

id, "I think Lydia's influence upon those around her wi

ied Miss Maria, in

assented the old man, and they both

and I am not disposed to feel anxious as to the ways and means. Lydia is no fool. I ha

l Village found out she had authority enough,"

," said Mr

aid Miss Maria. "I guess Lyddy'd know how to condu

f any harm comin' to Lyddy any more'n what you be. But what I said was, Wouldn't she fe

that Mrs. Bland who boarded at Mr. Parker's, and she told me that girls in Europe are brought up with no hab

itating to accept this ridiculous statem

confidence of hers in her own judgment, and her ability to take care of herself under any circumstances, and

earch for a comparison, and went into another room for a handkerchief. "I don't believe she cared over and above about goin', from the start," said Miss Maria, returning, "but when once she'd made up her mind to it, there she was. I d'know as she took much of a fancy to her aunt, but you couldn't told from anything that Lyddy said. Now, if I have anything on my mind, I have to blat it right out, as you may say; I can't seem to bear it a minute; but Lyddy's different. Well," concluded Miss Maria, "I guess there ain't goin' to

he'll influence 'em for good. Don't you fret about her clothes any. You fitted her out in apple-pie order, and she'll soon be there. 'T ain't but a little ways to Try-East, any way, to what it is some of them India voyages, Captain Jenness said. He h

f scruples that came so long after the fact. Then she said abruptly to Mr. Go