"Possibly. Somewhat. Sara has been reading aloud to me from the _Review_. She read all the long articles." "Ah--she does not know how that tires you. I must tell her. She does not appreciate--she is still so young, you know--that with your extensive reading, your knowledge of public affairs and the world at large, you can generally anticipate, after the first few sentences, all that can be said." The Major did not deny this statement of his resources. "I am going to the village for an hour or two," continued Madam Carroll; "I shall take Sara with me." (Here the Major's face seemed to evince a certain relief.) "We must call upon Miss Honoria Ashley. And also at Chapultepec, upon Mrs. Hibbard." "Yes, yes--widow of General Hibbard, of the Mexican War," said the Major, half to himself. "I do not pay many visits, as you know, Major; our position does not require it. We open our house--that is enough; our friends come to us; they do not expect us to go to them. But I make an exception in the case of Mrs. Hibbard and of Miss Ashley, as you have advised me to do; for the Ashleys are connected with the Carrolls by marriage, though the tie is remote, and Mrs. Hibbard's mother was a Witherspoon. I know you wish Sara to understand and recognize these little distinctions and differences." "Certainly. Very proper," said the Major. "We shall be gone an hour and a half, perhaps two hours. I will send Scar to you for his lessons; and I shall tell Judith Inches to allow no one to disturb you, not even to knock at this door. For Scar's lessons are important, Major." "Yes, very important--very." "Good-bye, then," said his wife, cheerfully, resting her hand on his shoulder for a moment, as she stood beside his chair. The Major drew the slender hand forward to his gray moustache. "Fie, Major! you spoil me," said the little woman, laughing. She left the room, making, with her light dress and long curls, a pretty picture at the door, as she turned to give him over her shoulder a farewell nod and smile. The Major kept on looking at the closed door for several minutes after she had gone.