"No, mother,only a little tired."
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Mrs. Scudder set down the candle, and shut the door, and, after a moment's hesitation, said,
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"My daughter, I have some news to tell you, which I want you to prepare your mind for. Keep yourself quite quiet."
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"Oh, mother!" said Mary, stretching out her hands towards her, "I know it. James has come home."
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"How did you hear?" said her mother, with astonishment.
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"I have seen him, mother."
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Mrs. Scudder's countenance fell.
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"I went to walk home with Cerinthy Twitchel, and as I was coming back he came up behind me, just at Savin Rock."
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Mrs. Scudder sat down on the bed and took her daughter's hand.
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"I trust, my dear child," she said. She stopped.
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"I think I know what you are going to say, mother. It is a great joy, and a great relief; but of course I shall be true to my engagement with the Doctor."
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Mrs. Scudder's face brightened.
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"That is my own daughter! I might have known that you would do so. You would not, certainly, so cruelly disappoint a noble man who has set his whole faith upon you."
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"No, mother, I shall not disappoint him. I told James that I should be true to my word."
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"He will probably see the justice of it," said Mrs. Scudder, in that easy tone with which elderly people are apt to dispose of the feelings of young persons. "Perhaps it may be something of a trial at first."
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Mary looked at her mother with incredulous blue eyes. The idea that feelings which made her hold her breath when she thought of them could be so summarily disposed of! She turned her face wearily to the wall, with a deep sigh, and said,
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"After all, mother, it is mercy enough and comfort enough to think that he is living. Poor Cousin Ellen, too,what a relief to her! It is like life from the dead. Oh, I shall be happy enough; no fear of that!"
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"And you know," said Mrs. Scudder, "that there has never existed any engagement of any kind between you and James.
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