Josephine coloured with pleasure; and Ida was curious to see one who had inspired them with such respect and admiration; for through Mr. Read's assumed carelessness, it was easy to discover that he was flattered by the promised visit. She gathered from their conversation that they had met Mr. Lacy at the Springs, whither he had gone with an invalid sister. As Virginians, they attached themselves to the Read party,--"_the_ party of the season," so Josephine unblushingly asserted. Too proud to go into the drawing-room, without an invitation, Ida went to her chamber, to spend the hours between supper and bed-time, in reading. "Miss Josephine must 'spect her beau; she's mightily fined off," commented Rachel, when she came up from her meal. "I said so! that's the door-bell I Ain't you going down, Miss Ida?" "No;"--not withdrawing her eyes from her book. "You ain't a school-girl now, Miss Ida," Rachel remonstrated. "Well--and if I am not?" "Why, young ladies ought to see company. I can't bear for you to be hiding up here, just like you was an ediot or _per_formed; and Miss Josephine, who ain't nigh so pretty, nor good, for that matter, is stealing all the beaux." "In other words, my good Rachel, you want me to get married." "Yes ma'am," said Rachel boldly; "If you come across any body to suit you, I'd a heap rather you'd be his wife, than to stay here to be pecked at and worried." "I am not easily worried; I am my own mistress, and restrained by no one." "Your own mistis', Miss Ida! Don't I see you sittin' at table, and in the parlor, never opening your mouth to say nothin'; and ain't you cooped up here in this chamber, because Miss Josephine ain't got politeness enough to ask you down? and after they've been making as much of you at Dr. Carleton's as if you had been the Queen of Sheby! Miss Carry is a lady worth talking about, and so is Miss Jenny--none of your turned up nose, poor white folksy sort. I wish you could get into the fam'ly," she added, slyly. Ida read on in silence. "The bell agin!" muttered Rachel, fretfully. "I don't know what they're coming for. If they knowed as much as we servants, they'd as soon jam their fingers into a steel-trap. What do you want?" she said, snappishly to the footman who knocked at the door. "Two gentlemen to see Miss Ross--Mr. Dana and Mr. Holmes." "I'll tell her;" she returned, greatly mollified. "Now, Miss Ida, don't scare them off with no solemn looks and talk. Do just like you did at Miss Carry's; and 'bove all things, don't let Miss Josephine cut you out!"