though he supposed, that far from having any scruples against so doing, she would be very glad to associate that way, with the good people of the village.
'Now, brother Pierre'—said Mrs. Glendinning, rising from Mrs. Llanyllyn's huge cushioned chair—'throw my shawl around me; and good-evening to Lucy's aunt.—There, we shall be late.'
As they walked along, she added—'Now, Pierre, I know you are apt to be a little impatient sometimes, of these sewing scenes; but courage; I merely want to peep in on them; so as to get some inkling of what they would indeed be at; and then my promised benefactions can be better selected by me. Besides, Pierre, I could have had Dates escort me, but I preferred you; because I want you to know who they are you live among; how many really pretty, and naturally refined dames and girls you shall one day be lord of the manor of. I anticipate a rare display of rural red and white.'
Cheered by such pleasant promises, Pierre soon found himself leading his mother into a room full of faces. The instant they appeared, a gratuitous old body, seated with her knitting near the door, squeaked out shrilly—'Ah! dames, dames,—Madam Glendinning!—Master Pierre Glendinning!'
Almost immediately following this sound, there came a sudden, long-drawn, unearthly, girlish shriek, from the further corner of the long, double room. Never had human voice so affected Pierre before. Though he saw not the person from whom it came, and though the voice was wholly strange to him, yet the sudden shriek seemed to split its way clean through his heart, and leave a yawning gap there. For an instant, he stood bewildered; but started at his mother's voice; her arm being still in his. 'Why do you clutch my arm so, Pierre? You pain me. Pshaw! some one has fainted,—nothing more.'
