Well, people say that the
little girls asked their father to let Miss Elfride come and live
with them, and that he said perhaps he would if they were good
children. However, the time went on, and one day I said, "Miss
Elfride, you don't look so well as you used to; and though nobody
else seems to notice it I do." She laughed a little, and said, "I
shall live to be married yet, as you told me."
'"Shall you, miss? I am glad to hear that," I said.
'"Whom do you think I am going to be married to?" she said again.
'"Mr. Knight, I suppose," said I.
'"Oh!" she cried, and turned off so white, and afore I could get
to her she had sunk down like a heap of clothes, and fainted away.
Well, then, she came to herself after a time, and said, "Unity,
now we'll go on with our conversation."
'"Better not to-day, miss," I said.
'"Yes, we will," she said. "Whom do you think I am going to be
married to?"
'"I don't know," I said this time.
'"Guess," she said.
'"'Tisn't my lord, is it?" says I.
'"Yes, 'tis," says she, in a sick wild way.
'"But he don't come courting much," I said.
"'Ah! you don't know," she said, and told me 'twas going to be in
October. After that she freshened up a bit--whether 'twas with
the thought of getting away from home or not, I don't know. For,
perhaps, I may as well speak plainly, and tell you that her home
was no home to her now. Her father was bitter to her and harsh
upon her; and though Mrs.
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