So much was Mr. Hamilton held in thrall by the widow that on his way home he hardly knew whether to be glad or sorry that he had not proposed. If Judge B---- would marry her she surely was good enough for him. Anon, too, he recalled her hesitation about confessing that the judge was indifferent to her. Jealousy crept in and completed what flattery and intrigue had commenced. One week from that night Ernest Hamilton and Luella Carter were engaged, but for appearance's sake their marriage was not to take place until the ensuing autumn. CHAPTER VI. RAISING THE WIND. "Where are you going now?" asked Mrs. Carter of her daughter, as she saw her preparing to go out one afternoon, a few weeks after the engagement. "Going to raise the wind," was the answer. "Going to what?" exclaimed Mrs. Carter. "To raise the wind! Are you deaf?" yelled Lenora. "Raise the wind!" repeated Mrs. Carter; "what do you mean?" "Mean what I say," said Lenora; and closing the door after her she left her mother to wonder "what fresh mischief the little torment was at." But she was only going to make a _friendly_ call on Margaret and Carrie, the latter of whom she had heard was sick. "Is Miss Hamilton at home?" asked she of the servant girl who answered her ring, and whom she had never seen before. "Yes, ma'am; walk in the parlor. What name shall I give her if you please?" "Miss Carter--Lenora Carter;" and the servant girl departed, repeating to herself all the way up the stairs, "Miss Carther--Lenora Carther!" "Lenora Carter want to see me!" exclaimed Mag, who, together with Kate Kirby, was in her sister's room. "Yes, ma'am; an' sure 'twas Miss Hampleton she was wishin' to see," said the Irish girl. "Well, I shall not go down," answered Mag. "Tell her, Rachel, that I am otherwise engaged." "Oh, Maggie," said Carrie, "why not see her? I would if I were you." "Rachel can ask her up here if you wish it," answered Mag, "but I shall leave the room." "Faith, an' what shall I do?" asked Rachel, who was fresh from "swate Ireland" and felt puzzled to know why a "silk frock and smart bonnet" should not always be welcome. "Ask her up," answered Kate. "I've never seen her nearer than across the church and have some curiosity--" A moment after Rachel thrust her head in at the parlor door, saying, "If you please, ma'am, Miss Marget is engaged, and does not want to see you, but Miss Carrie says you may come up there." "Very well," said Lenora; and tripping after the servant girl, she was soon in Carrie's room. After retailing nearly all the gossip of which she was mistress, she suddenly turned to Carrie, and said, "Did you know that your father was going to be married?" "My father going to be married!" said Carrie, opening her blue eyes in astonishment. "My father going to be married! To whom pray?" "To a lady from the East--one whom he used to know and flirt with when he was in college!" was Lenora's grave reply. "What is her name?" asked Kate.