Joseph and His Friend

o convey a rapid signal to his wife before the family took their seats at the table. Joseph was the only one who did not perceive the silent communication of intelligence; but its consequen

ive drops of milk, and the fragment of sugar, without asking himself whether the beverage were palatable: he divided a leaf-like piece of flesh and consumed several wafers of bread, blissfully unconscious whether his stomach were satisfied. He felt that he had been received into The Family. Mr. Blessing was magnificently bland, Mrs. Blessing was maternally interested, Clementina r

se as his home. She would also call him "Joseph," but not now,—not until she was entitled to name him "son." It had co

, and unconsciously decided to accept his fortune, whatever features it might wear. Unti

," and there was a little music, and a variety of gossip, with occasional pauses of silence, until Mrs. Blessing said: "Perhaps you had better show Mr. Asten to his room

ther cigar. His wife closed the front shutters, slipped the night-bolts of the door, and then seated herself beside him. Julia whirled

Mr. Blessing asked, after se

but younger than I expected. Are y

"what a question! I can o

lip in a singular fash

now how she will be able to retain her place in our circle, unless they

ooked inquisitive

e is a deal, a throw, a sort of kite-flying, in fact (except in our case, my dear), and,

him, pa!" cried t

adily a moment, and then winke

he—the money? We can save afterwards, to be sure, but there will be an immediate and fearful expense. I've thought, perhaps, that a simple and p

e an opportunity of learning our standing in society. I will invite the Collector, and

ll-worn carpet, the nankeen-covered chairs,

I couldn't get ten dollars on it. We must take your set

d with great glee. The lad

bles at such a time as this. I see nothing else to do, but to inform Mr. Asten, f

said Julia. "I could not bear

o do," warbled Clementina,

r than black. When all devices are exhausted, a man of pluck and character goes to work and constructs a new one. Upon my soul, I don't

he stairs; then, bringing down his hand emphatically upon his thigh, he exclaimed, "By J

he seems to be stron

l; what he'll season into depends on her. Honest as the day,—there's nothing like a country life for that. But

at after all your unf

her to improve her opportunities. Besides, this will help Clementina's chances; where there is one marriage in a fami

essing; "and Clementina's complexion an

, and Mrs. Bass has somehow crept into her place, Clementina is quite—I may say—obsolete. I don't object to her complexion, because that is a standing fashion, but she is expected to be chatty, and wit

if she were to dispute my opinion sometimes, I might, perhaps, gain

mposure' and 'serenity' carried all before her. Give me fifty thousand a year, and I'll put Clementi

ink, will be ample,"

nd if I have luck with the two hundred over—small, careful operations, you know,

ancholy, hopeless way, and th

nces he had just made remained all the more vividly in his thoughts from their nearness; he was still within their atmosphere. They were unlike any persons he knew, and therefore he felt that he might do them injustice by a hasty estimate of their character. Clementina, however, was excluded from this charitable resolution. Concentrating his dislike on her, he found that her par

delight. He was so absorbed in planning the new household, that he did not hear the sisters ente

tina say: "of course I shall have the s

ied with a light silk," Julia said;

answered shortly, paci

voice again. "Never mind," she said

r voice, and Joseph only distinguished a detached word now and then. He rose, indignant at this unsisterly assault, and wishing to hear no

one thing you will keep very secret, and that is yo

rest,—all with more noise than was habitual with him. There were whispers and hushed movements in the next room, but not another audible word was spoken. Before slee

morning with a sweet unconsciousness of what she had endured, which convinced him that such painful scenes must have been frequent, or

that the wedding should take p