"Now, my dear wife, come and bring Julia, if you think it best. I confess I wish that they might meet at an early day--but be governed by your better judgment in this--and you will show her this letter of course. "Ever, with love and kisses to you both, EDWARD." "Mother," she said afterwards, "let me suggest that you send up a carriage to-morrow evening, which Papa Judge may take as an invitation to come early on Saturday morning. If Mr. Ridgeley sees me, had he not better find me in my mother's and father's house?" "_If_ he sees you, Julia?" "Of course if he wishes to, he will." And she was not conversational, and wandered about, and if possible would have been a little pettish. "Are you not glad, Julia, that he has acquitted himself so well? He seems to have carried the Court and jury and all by storm." "Of course he did. Does that surprise you? But it is all so stupid, staying there to try that pokey old case." "Julia, what under the sun is the matter?" looking at her in surprise. The girl turned and knelt by her mother, and laid her face down in her lap, and burst into violent sobbings. On the morrow Julia arose, sweet and composed, with the old light in her eyes, and her wonted color coming and going with the mysterious emotions within. She was almost gay and joyous at breakfast, and then grew fitful and restless, and then became pensive again. The day was a marvel of the forward spring, and the sun filled the whole heavens with its wondrous light. The blue bird called down in his flight, with his trill of gladness, and the robins flooded the leafless trees and the lawn with gushes of purest melody. Julia could not remain in the house; she could not remain anywhere; and as the morning deepened, she took a sudden resolution and ordered Prince to be saddled at once. "Mother," said she, "I have the whole of this long, long day. I must gallop off through the woods, around to Wilder's. I haven't been there since last fall; and then I will come around by Mrs. Ridgeley's and tell her, and so home. Don't gay a word, mother; I must go. I cannot stay here. I'll be back in good time."