Two weeks after Julia’s burial, all of which time was passed at Mr. Middleton’s, Dr. Lacey went back to New Orleans, having first placed in Mr. Middleton’s care a sum of money for the benefit of Mrs. Dunn, promising Fanny that with the spring he would come again. He bade her adieu, praying that nothing might come between them again. Heavily now dragged the days at Mr. Middleton’s, until Uncle Joshua hit upon a plan which would not only give pleasure to Fanny, but would also relieve the tedium of his own life. It was nothing more nor less than the erection of a new house on a grassy lawn, which Fanny had frequently pointed out as being a good location. Long he revolved in his mind the for and against, but the remembrance of Julia’s wish to have the "old shell fixed up," finally decided him. "If ’twasn’t good enough for her to be married in, it surely wasn’t good enough for Sunshine." At the breakfast table he first announced his intention, causing Fanny in her surprise and joy not only to drop her knife, but also to upset her coffee. "All right," said he, "I’ll do it, if it breaks me. We’ll have a buster," said he, "marble mantletrys, windows that come to the floor, Brussels carpets, and if you’re a mind to, you may have them four-legged split things, though, Lord knows I’ll never eat with them." In a short time the necessary arrangements were completed. A large number of men were hired and matters progressed so rapidly that there was every probability of the house being completed early in June, should the winter season prove favorable. Here we may as well relate a little circumstance which occurred to Fanny during the winter. Bill Jeffrey, who, it will be remembered, had always felt a predilection for her, emboldened by the kindness of her manner, now determined to make his wishes known. Accordingly, he sent her numerous little cakes of maple sugar, besides giving her many knowing winks, his usual method of showing his preference. As she was one day strolling in the woods she suddenly encountered Bill, who thought this was as favorable an opportunity as he would probably have. He was rather awkward and unaccustomed to love-making, but he resolved to do his best. Planting his foot upon a log, he with one hand drew from his head his old wool cap and thrust it under his arm, while with the other he twirled a huge brass watchkey, which hung suspended from his pocket. (He had the day before traded off an old jack knife, two puppies, and a cracked fiddle, for a brass watch which would only go by shaking.) Tiger, who had accompanied Fanny, eyed Bill’s movements uneasily. He was, however, unnoticed by the young man, who had got his mouth open, and at last found courage to say, "I always liked you, Fanny, ’cause you never laughed at me, nor called me a fool, and now if you’ll have me, you may carry my watch, and I’ll work for your father two seasons in the hemp field." This last was wonderful, for Bill was notoriously lazy.