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’Nothing，thankyou，’saidStockdale，thinkinglessofwhatherepliedthanofwhatmightbeherrelationtothehousehold。
’Youarequitesure？’saidtheyoungwoman，apparentlyawarethathehadnotconsideredhisanswer。
Heconscientiouslyexaminedthetea-things，andfoundthemallthere。’Quitesure，MissNewberry，’hesaid。
’ItisMrs。Newberry，’shesaid。’LizzyNewberry，IusedtobeLizzySimpkins。’
’O，Ibegyourpardon，Mrs。Newberry。’Andbeforehehadoccasiontosaymoreshelefttheroom。
StockdaleremainedinsomedoubttillMarthaSarahcametoclearthetable。’Whosehouseisthis，mylittlewoman，’saidhe。
’Mrs。LizzyNewberry’s，sir。’
’ThenMrs。NewberryisnottheoldladyIsawthisafternoon？’
’No。That’sMrs。Newberry’smother。ItwasMrs。Newberrywhocomedintoyoujustbynow，becauseshewantedtoseeifyouwasgood-
looking。’
Laterintheevening，whenStockdalewasabouttobeginsupper，shecameagain。’Ihavecomemyself，Mr。Stockdale，’shesaid。Theministerstoodupinacknowledgmentofthehonour。’IamafraidlittleMarthermightnotmakeyouunderstand。Whatwillyouhaveforsupper？——there’scoldrabbit，andthere’sahamuncut。’
Stockdalesaidhecouldgetonnicelywiththoseviands，andsupperwaslaid。Hehadnomorethancutaslicewhentap-tapcametothedooragain。Theministerhadalreadylearntthatthisparticularrhythmintapsdenotedthefingersofhisenkindlinglandlady，andthedoomedyoungfellowburiedhisfirstmouthfulunderalookofreceptiveblandness。
’Wehaveachickeninthehouse，Mr。Stockdale——Iquiteforgottomentionitjustnow。PerhapsyouwouldlikeMartherSarertobringitup？’
Stockdalehadadvancedfarenoughintheartofbeingayoungmantosaythathedidnotwantthechicken，unlessshebroughtitupherself；butwhenitwasutteredheblushedatthedaringgallantryofthespeech，perhapsashadetoostrongforaseriousmanandaminister。Inthreeminutesthechickenappeared，but，tohisgreatsurprise，onlyinthehandsofMarthaSarah。Stockdalewasdisappointed，whichperhapsitwasintendedthatheshouldbe。
Hehadfinishedsupper，andwasnotintheleastanticipatingMrs。
Newberryagainthatnight，whenshetappedandenteredasbefore。
Stockdale’sgratifiedlooktoldthatshehadlostnothingbynotappearingwhenexpected。Ithappenedthatthecoldintheheadfromwhichtheyoungmansufferedhadincreasedwiththeapproachofnight，andbeforeshehadspokenhewasseizedwithaviolentfitofsneezingwhichhecouldnotanyhowrepress。
Mrs。Newberrylookedfullofpity。’Yourcoldisverybadto-night，Mr。Stockdale。’
Stockdalerepliedthatitwasrathertroublesome。
’AndI’veagoodmind’——sheaddedarchly，lookingatthecheerlessglassofwateronthetable，whichtheabstemiousministerwasgoingtodrink。
’Yes，
