Mrs. Scudder set down the candle, and shut the door, and, after a moment's hesitation, said,-- "My daughter, I have some news to tell you, which I want you to prepare your mind for. Keep yourself quite quiet" "Oh, mother!" said Mary, stretching out her hands towards her, "I know it. James has come home." "How did you hear?" said her mother, with astonishment. "I have seen him, mother." Mrs. Scudder's countenance fell. "Where?" "I went to walk home with Cerinthy Twitchel, and, as I was coming back, he came up behind me, just at Savin Rock." Mrs. Scudder sat down on the bed and took her daughter's hand. "I trust, my dear child," she said. She stopped. "I think I know what you are going to say, mother. It is a great joy, and a great relief; but of course I shall be true to my engagement with the Doctor." Mrs. Scudder's face brightened. "That is my own daughter! I might have known that you would do so. You would not, certainly, so cruelly disappoint a noble man who has set his whole faith upon you." "No, mother, I shall not disappoint him. I told James that I should be true to my word." "He will probably see the justice of it," said Mrs. Scudder, in that easy tone with which elderly people are apt to dispose of the feelings of young persons. "Perhaps it may be something of a trial, at first." Mary looked at her mother with incredulous blue eyes. The idea that feelings which made her hold her breath when she thought of them could be so summarily disposed of! She turned her face wearily to the wall, with a deep sigh, and said,-- "After all, mother, it is mercy enough and comfort enough to think that he is living. Poor Cousin Ellen, too,--what a relief to her! It is like life from the dead. Oh, I shall be happy enough; no fear of that!" "And you know," said Mrs. Scudder, "that there has never existed any engagement of any kind between you and James. He had no right to found any expectations on anything you ever told him." "That is true also, mother," said Mary, "I had never thought of such a thing as marriage, in relation to James." "Of course," pursued Mrs. Scudder, "he will always be to you as a near friend." Mary assented. "There is but a week now, before your wedding," continued Mrs. Scudder; "and I think Cousin James, if he is reasonable, will see the propriety of your mind being kept as quiet as possible. I heard the news this afternoon in town," pursued Mrs. Scudder, "from Captain Staunton, and, by a curious coincidence, I received from him this letter from James, which came from New York by post. The brig that brought it must have been delayed out of the harbor." "Oh, please, mother, give it to me!" said Mary, rising up with animation; "he mentioned having sent me one." "Perhaps you had better wait till morning," said Mrs. Scudder; "you are tired and excited." "Oh, mother, I think I shall be more composed when I know all that is in it," said Mary, still stretching out her hand.