"I hope to do so, at any rate, if your sister will permit me," said Edah, feeling that she did not like the superfine Mr. Laurence any the better for this speech. "I am very much interested in the account she has given me of her labors there." "Oh, there is no fear but she will let you. She is as proud of her school as my father of his colts and young cattle—only the colts are the more respectable of the two." "You must not mind what Addison says," said Annie, laughing, though Edah thought she seemed a little hurt. "He gave me ten dollars to provide books and so forth for my ragged regiment, without my even asking him." "Why, as long as you persist in spending your time so, I think it is better to do the thing creditably; and after all, it is a harmless amusement enough. Everybody likes to have something to patronize—it is human nature!" "But not the nature of Mr. Addison Laurence, I suppose," said Louisa. "Oh, I bestow it all on my horses and dogs, saving what little I find it desirable to expend on yourself, my fair lady. But I must needs be allowed my liberty at present, for when Dick comes home, the majority will be so strong against ma that I shall not dare to open my mouth from one week's end to another." "If you keep silence for an hour at a time, it will be what you have never done in your life before," said his mother; "and now please to take your candle and disappear. You have illustrated yourself sufficiently for one night." Edah did not feel at all sleepy when she reached her room, and she sat down to think over the events of the day. What a long day it seemed! She could hardly bring herself to believe that she had been only twelve hours at Spring Bank, and she began already to dread the time when she must return to her father's house. This feeling increased as she went on contrasting the two families in her mind, and she began to feel as if it were impossible for her to return to Brooksville to live. "But how foolish I am!" she said, rousing herself from her reverie. "If this is the way I am going to be affected by the visit, I had better have stayed at home." Then repressing by a strong effort any further indulgence in the same train of thought, she fixed her mind upon her Bible reading, and after praying especially to be delivered from the temptations of wishing to lay down the cross, she soon fell asleep. The bell rung in good season next morning, but Edah was up and dressed before it sounded, and when she descended to the drawing-room, there was no one there. She was standing at the open window, enjoying the beautiful view, and drinking in the fresh morning air, when Annie joined her. "I have been looking for you," she said, kissing her, "but you are too prompt for me. Is not this prospect beautiful under the morning sun? How strange it is that people can prefer to shut themselves up in cities, when they can have such beautiful sights and sounds, at so much less expense."