The night after he returned home, Mrs. Farnham was in a state of remarkable good humor. Frederick had brought her pleasant news from the city. The house they had been building in one of the avenues was completed, and ready for its furniture. There was a promise of endless shopping excursions and important business of all kinds. The lady was heartily tired of her present still life, and found the prospect of returning to town, under these circumstances, exhilarating. "I am glad you are so well pleased," said Frederick, seating himself among the silken cushions of the couch, upon which his mother had placed herself; for, as we have said, Mrs. Farnham affected great splendor even in her country residence. "I am glad you are pleased, mother, for I wish very much to see you happy." "Oh, if it hadn't been for that wicked upstart girl we should always have been happy, Fred. I'm so grateful that you have got over that degrading fancy," said Mrs. Farnham, a little anxiously, for with that low-born cunning which is the wisdom of silly women, she took this indirect way of ascertaining whether Frederick really held to his attachment for the wronged girl or not. "Such a catch as you are, Fred; young, handsome and a millionaire, to throw yourself away on a pauper, when half the most fashionable girls in town are dressing and dancing at you." "Hush, mother," said the young man, I cannot hear you speak lightly of Isabel, for God willing, if I can win her consent, the day I am of age makes her my wife." "Are you crazy, Farnham? how dare you say this to me?" "Because it's the truth, mother." "And you _will_ brave me! you _will_ bring a pauper into my house! be careful, sir, be careful!" "Mother, in this thing, I must judge for myself. My father, I know, intended that I should, else why did he leave me, untrammeled as I am?" Mrs. Farnham started up--her pale blue eyes gleamed venomously. She stood for a moment, growing paler, and more repulsive; some evil idea evidently possessed her. "Be careful, be careful," she said, shaking her finger at him, menacingly, "do not provoke me--don't go a step farther, or I will prove how far you are untrammeled. Another word and there will be no medium between my love and my hate." "Mother, are you mad?" "Mother, indeed! I have been a mother to you. I've done what few mothers would have the courage to undertake for a child, but what I have done can be taken back--don't provoke me, I tell you, again, Frederick Farnham--don't provoke your mother." "Oh, be a mother, a true-hearted woman," cried Fred, imploringly; "Isabel will love you; be kind to her." Mrs. Farnham drew back, and folded her arms in an attitude she had seen Rachel assume on the stage, and which she deemed very imposing. "Frederick Farnham, if you marry that girl I will bring you to her level--I will make a pauper of you." Frederick smiled; the whole thing struck him as a farce badly played.