so sure to be hereditary that its probable occurrence in her own case was never absent from her mind. She felt that her life was not to be a long one, and she was sure that her Master would care for its peaceful ending; so no question of a home enticed or disturbed her now. Against the idea of marrying Mr. Packard, much arranged itself. She was unwilling to leave Mrs. Payson; she loved her and Una as if they had been her own kindred, and she had a reverent affection for the minister that he knew he did not really deserve, but whose very honesty and purity led him unconsciously to a higher plane of living that he might justify it. She loved Delia too; in fact, Happy's nature, like a flower whose bud, long delayed by storm and frost, opens widely to the later sunshine, had expanded into a breadth of sweetness and affection under these home influences and the light of that heaven into fitness for which she was striving to enter, till she had become not only loving but lovely, too. No wonder Mr. Packard wanted her to bless his home and make Mira into an image of herself, but she did not feel any corresponding wish to do so. The danger now was that she should in her ignorance and inexperience marry him from a sense of duty, and make the greatest mistake a woman can ever make under the influence of a good motive. But Happy had not committed her way to the Lord in vain; she prayed earnestly to be guided to right action, and her prayer was heard. She reached Miss Vinny's doorstep still undecided and anxious, unaware that her prayer was answered as well as heard, and equally unaware that Miss Vinny was to do her another of her many good services. CHAPTER XXVII. "WELL, I declare for 't! it seems an age o' Sundays sence you was here, Happy," was the old lady's greeting. "I meant to come Thursday night, Aunt Vinny," the girl replied, "but Delia wanted to go to lecture, and Mrs. Payson had company to tea, so I did the dishes after Una was asleep, and finally Mrs. Payson went to church too." "Well! you're here now. I won't growl no more; but seems as though I wanted you more'n usual this week. I've been kinder left to myself, so to speak, seemin'ly. I didn't feel real cherk this week, so't I didn't go to sewin' s'ciety, and seems as if I didn't reelly know a thing." Happy recognized the old lady's want; she knew how she really pined to hear about her friends, and how she depended on sewing society to supply that information. There is a good side to gossip as to many another reviled thing; its very derivation, "God-sib," tells of a common brotherhood under our Father, a family link that ought to and does make us eager to hear and tell about those who are nearest to us in this relation. That innocent kindly tidings of our neighbors, friendly discussion of their positions and lives, news heard and told in a spirit of charity, does and will degenerate into scandal and slander, is the fault of our own evil, not of the abused intercourse, which ought to be pure and pleasant. Reticent people are apt to cultivate their spécial trait as a virtue, and be proud of it, but extreme reticence is only the expression of dominant pride and masterful selfishness; it is a trait which virtually says, "I am holier than thou," in withdrawing from the common weal and woe its individual joys and sorrows; and demonstrates its origin by becoming always unlovely and repellant. Happy hardly knew how to open her heart to-day to Miss Lavinia, yet she needed her counsel, but the keen old eyes soon saw that something troubled her child's peace. "What's the matter with you, Happy?" she asked anxiously; "there's an extra crease in your forrard, an' your eyes look tired; what is it?" "Oh, Aunt Vinny! I'm real perplexed. I don't know how to tell you, for it isn't really anything to tell, but yet it is something to me, after all." "Kinder curus, that is.” "Well, you see, Aunt Vinny, Mrs. Payson says, and I don't know, maybe 'tis so, somebody wants — well — thinks about it perhaps — He hasn't said a word, not one word, Aunt Vinny! but I am so troubled. If I can't-why, I ought to let him know before he does ask me; and if I can but oh dear!" "Clear as mud," emphatically declared the amused old lady. "Ef I hadn't had two idees in my head, I shouldn't never find out nothin' by you, Happilony! but I've heered quite a consider'ble lot about you lately. Delye she's come here a spell back, mighty as Julius Cæsar, ragin' about some feller or 'nother that comes to see ye. I was beat when I found out 'twas Luman Packard! of all things! I might have knowed it; there's a sight o' difference betwixt men folks and women; you don't hear of one widder in a hundred gittin' married ag'in, but law! a widower's got to be took care of; I never knowed it to fail.' "But Aunt Vinny, don't think well, I didn't think, but Mrs. Payson "I dare to say! I dare to say! she spoke in meetin' afore the bell rung didn't she? Well! some folks will, and it's jest as good as not; saves heaps of trouble. Mis' Payson's got good eyes I hain't no doubt besides Delye a'n't blind, and ef his ears ha'n't burned some along back it ha'n't been for : |