Now when she wished to
open her generous heart to the claims of affection in the way of helping
Lapwing or Miriam, who were neither of them very rich--or to the greater
claims of humanity in the relief of the suffering poor, or the pardon of
delinquent servants, she could do so to her utmost content, and without
having to accompany her kind act with a deep sigh at the anticipation of
the parlor storm it would raise at home. And though Mrs. Henrietta still
"waxed fat," her good flesh was no longer an incumbrance to her--the
leaven of cheerfulness lightened the whole mass.
Mrs. Waugh had brought her old maid Jenny back. Jenny had begged to come
home to "old mistress" for she said it was "'stonishin how age-able,"
she felt, though nobody might believe it, she was "gettin' oler and
oler, ebery singly day" of her life, and she wanted to end her days
"'long o' ole mistress."
Old mistress was rich and good, and Luckenough was a quiet, comfortable
home, where the old maid was very sure of being lodged, boarded, and
clothed almost as well as old mistress herself--not that these selfish
considerations entered largely into Jenny's mind, for she really loved
Mrs. Henrietta.
And old mistress and old maid were never happier than on some fine,
clear day, when seated on their two old mules, they ambled along through
forest and over field, to spend a day with Lapwing or with Hebe--or
perhaps with the "Pigeon Pair," as they called the new married couple at
the villa.
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