In addition to these signs of impending freedom, trunks were packed in the rooms, with an adeptness of getting in things with springs twice as wide as any trunk, and of laying cologne-bottles, fans, and brushes, between objects with ruffles so as to perfectly protect the latter, that would have put the most conceited old bachelor to shame. Affected tenderly by thoughts of a separation which, so ridiculously uncertain is human life, might be forever, the young ladies who couldn't bear each other, and had been quite sorry for each other because she couldn't help it with such a natural disposition and rough forehead as hers, poor thing!--graciously made-up with each other, in case they should not meet again until in Heaven.--You will not think any more, HENRIETTA TOMLINSON, of what I told you about AUGUSTUS SMITH'S remarks to me that Sunday coming out of chapel. I _didn't_ let you know before, my dear, but when he had the impudence to say that one of your eyebrows was longer than the other, and that you had a sleepy look as though a little more in the upper-story wouldn't hurt you, I stood up for you, and told him he ought to be ashamed to talk so on Sunday about you, after you'd taken such pains to please him. That's just all there was about that whole thing, HENRIETTA, dear, and now I hope we may part friends.--Why _shouldn't_ we, MARTHA JENKINS? I'm sure _I've_ never been the one to be unfriendly, and when Mr. SMITH told _me_, that he guessed my friend Miss JENKINS didn't know how much she walked like a camel, I was as sarcastic as I could be, and said I didn't know before that _gentlemen_ ever made _fun_ of natural deformities.--Yes, HENRIETTA, my love, I know how you've _always,_ te-he! spoken well of _everybody_ behind their backs. Gentlemen give _you_ their confidence as soon as they see you, without a _bit_ of fishing for it on _your_ part, and then you have a chance to befriend your poor friends.--Oh, well, MARTHA, darling, there's no need of your getting provoked because I wouldn't hear you called a camel--he! he!--after you'd been so angelic with him about stepping on the middle back-breadth of your poplin--"Oh, _never_ mind it at _all-l_, Mayistah SA-MITH; it's of _No-o_ consequence!" Te-he-he-he! When _is_ it to come off, Miss TOMLINSON? When does your AUGUSTUS finally reward your _perseverance_ with his big red hand?--I haven't asked him yet, Precious! out of regard for your feelings. He's _so_ sensitive about having any one think he's _jilted_ her; quite ridiculous, I tell him.--HENRIETTA TOMLINSON! you--you'd get on your _knees_ to make a man look at you: EVERYbody says _that!_--But then, you know, MARTHA JENKINS, there are persons who wouldn't be looked at much, even if they did go on their knees for it, _lovey_.--M'm'm! Ph'h'h! Please keep by your _own_ trunk, HENRIETTA. I don't want anything _stolen,_ Miss!--He! he! Of course I'll go, MARTHA. There's so _much_ danger of my stealing your old