446 PONTO'S FIRST LESSON.
personage you are. Do you intend to be married before the year is out?"
"Perhaps I shall, " responded Hetty, loftily.
"Well, Miss, before that auspicious event comes off, perhaps you'll condescend to finish this sewing. "
"I don't feel like sewing ; I wanted to go with with the girls this afternoon-I'd set my heart on it. If I'd done anything to deserve your treating me so - so - cruel , " sobbed Hetty. "Take this work and finish it before dark, " said aunt Bab, her conscience making her voice harsh .
"I won't," cried Hetty, flatly; then grew frightened at her own temerity.
"That's your gratitude for all my kindness, is it? That's your thanks for my lavender silk that I got altered for you ? Go to your roommarch up stairs. Oh ! what will you come to, Hetty Edwards ! I should think you'd be afraid your mother ' d turn in her grave."
An allusion to her mother always broke down the strong will of poor Hetty. In a moment she was subdued, and walked humbly up stairs. But she was not prepared to hear the key turn in the lock on the outside.
Then her willful temper returned : she shook the door, and shouted out of the window ; but the spinster walked calmly down the gardenpath, quite sure that she had done her duty.
She leisurely put up a placard on the gatepost- Board for a single gentleman. "
After this she went over to widow Black's, to talk scandal, I am afraid.
Every summer that same old placard had secured the single gentleman , who, in spite of the ancient maiden's arts, insisted on going away single.
Hetty saw the last of the faded green calash, and stood at the window panting with rage.
"I'll swing down by the post, " she said, opening the window upon a diminutive balcony. She dried her eyes, and tied her curls up in a bunch on the top of her head with a bit of twine. " I'll see if I'm to be treated so for a whim. I don't believe that woman can be my mother's sister." Then she wrapped a pillow- case round one arm, and her apron round the other. She climbed over the low paling, worked with hands and feet till she had secured a hold on the corner pillar that supported it, and went down with a force that almost shook the breath out of her body.
That was well done ," cried a voice.
Hetty screamed and looked up in a fright Before her stood a tall man, with laughing black eyes, plainly visible under large, green spectacles.
"I should say you were accustomed to that mode of traveling," the man remarked ; but his smile was kind, for this queer apparition of a young girl had the most beautiful face he had ever seen.
"No, it's my first attempt," replied Hetty, demurely.
" For the novelty of the thing, I suppose. ”
"I couldn't get out any other way. Aunt Bab locked me up."
"Then I am to infer that aunt Bab and Miss, Miss- "
"Hetty," said the girl, promptly.
"Are not on the best of terms, " said he, finishing his sentence.
"We get along well enough most times -__” and here Hetty paused. Was it proper to talk thus freely to a stranger ? He divined her thoughts.
"I saw a notice on your gate that a gentleman could get board here. "
"Are you single ?" asked Hetty, with such rustic simplicity that the man turned away, for a moment, to hide a smile.
"I am, fortunately, ” he said.
"You're just the one, then. Walk right in; aunt Bab will be so glad!" and forgetting all her wrongs, Hetty sprang into a low window and unbolted the door. It looked very cool and comfortable in that broad, country kitchen. The cupboard was open a little ways, and the china dishes, Miss Barbara's pride, glistened in snowy array. The bright melon was on a dish, looking cool and tempting ; and a pile of white napkins stood near. It was ironing-day, the clothes-horse was filled with shining linen ; the floor, newly scoured, looked fresh and spotless. If the whole thing had been arranged for special effect, aunt Bab could not have studied up a more interesting domestic picture. The pretty parlor was not less inviting. Roses stood on the center-table-cleanliness and fragrance were apparent everywhere.
If ever mortal was taken by surprise, certainly aunt Bab was on her return, for she saw a fine, tall gentleman sitting in the parlor, and Hetty coolly doing the honors, with her head tied up like a wild Injun," she afterward remarked. At her aunt's approach, Hetty's wrongs occurred to her, and she marched out of the room like a queen in a tragedy.
The matter was quietly arranged. The gentleman's name was Barstow. He liked his room -references were exchanged; and when Miss Bab was left by herself, she cast one rapid
