it arose from some saddening reminiscence, or mistrust of the future; "Charley must enliven her." And Charley, if he did not bring mirth, eliminated the caged troubler. She "had heard," she said, "that the law required her to choose a guardian." "True;" said Charley. "Is there any specified time? has it expired?" "A month hence will do; although Miss Read has made her choice." "Ah! whom?" "Mr. Talbot, the elder. Easy soul! he has not a thought of the pickle he is in." Ida was more serious. "Will you say the same of my selected protector." "Probably--you being a _fac-simile_ of her." "May I choose whom I please?" "Undoubtedly." "Will it be a very troublesome office?" "Hum-m-m! I should say not. Some care--some responsibility--that is a mere song, though, as your schooling is done, and you are a moderately discreet young lady." "Will you ask your brother to act? I prefer him above all other men in the universe." "Why not do it yourself? he will not object." "He might be influenced by my anxiety, and assume the task because it will make me happy--I want him to make an unprejudiced decision." "I will look him up;" said Charley. They re-entered together; and John bowed his tall form to kiss the flushing cheek. "You will not seem more like a daughter, when you are my ward, than you do now, Ida." CHAPTER XXVII. It was chinquapen season; and a grove of "bushes" on the outskirts of the Poplar-grove plantation resounded with the jocund voices of a nutting party. The green beards rolled back their white lips, in a smile, saving as plainly as smile could say, for the shining brown treasure--"Come and take us!" As a loaded upper limb was roughly shaken, and screams of laughter and pretended fright arose from the group, upon whose heads the hurtling shower descended, our friend Charley might be seen, sauntering away, in suspicious unconcern;--Ellen Morris was weaving her gay-coloured meshes around Mr. Euston's susceptible heart, and Mary Truman, with Charley, as aid, was pioneer to a dozen children of assorted sizes. One couple had strayed to the edge of the grove, where, from the brow of a hill, they overlooked a wide expanse of landscape. The lady, whose bloom was heightened by exercise, or some other cause, was profoundly occupied in sifting chinquapens--taken, a handful at a time, from her basket--into the same again. Her cavalier was speaking low and impressively.