“I have that set down,” said Uncle Pennyman.  Mr. Haines sighed again in that anxious, uncertain way of his: 

“During the first day after the visitation, Daniel, I could not recall whether my wife’s appearance said, ‘To Thomas, marry her wisely,’ or as we now put it down; but since you have set it clearly before me, and your son will so soon be here, I feel that I am justified in having it stated in that way, and that Providence is guiding me.”

Oh how my heart rose against Uncle Pennyman as I listened!  He was the one to blame for such a shameful, foolish notion stealing into Mr. Haines’ head!  Left to himself, any name would have suited him equally well, and here was Tom’s thrust in without any earthly reason.  It was really dreadful!  I could scarcely stand on my feet when I remembered how Tom loved his adopted father, and with what unselfish devotion he always spoke of him.  “If he’s told that it will be a family blessing, he never will have the heart to deny them and grieve Uncle Pennyman.  Poor Tom! he is so shockingly unselfish himself that he would rather enjoy a sacrifice than otherwise, I suppose.”  So ran my thoughts, and I grew desperate.  Desperation awakens courage.  Tom would be there in the evening, and if anything could be done it had to be done at once.

I slipped out silently as I came:  no one heard me.  I did not mean that they should do so, for, to confess the truth, I was listening on purpose.  I dressed to go out with Mr. Pepper; so did Bessie, though I must say she was very nervous and uncertain about it.  “You know papa does not know him in—­in the character of a friend of mine,” she said, hesitatingly.  “Miss Pepper introduced him, and that is all.”

“But that is no reason why it should be all,” I said to myself, and paid no attention to her little bashful fussiness.

When he arrived, I saw in his eyes that he meant to take advantage of the opportunity I was making for him, and so I boldly carried out my plan.  We started, and had gone a block or two when I discovered that they were becoming unaware of my existence and completely absorbed in each other.  “Poor dears!” I thought, “let them have a still better chance.”  So I stopped in the most natural way possible at a window where trimmings were displayed, and began to stare at some ribbon.  “The very shade!” I said:  “I would not miss it for anything.  Pray go on slowly, and I’ll join you presently.  Keep on till you reach the church—­I know the way.  And be sure you stay till I come.  No, you shall not come in:  I insist that you go right on, and do not bother.  I have a sort of pride in making bargains, and they never can be made in company, you know.”  I laughed and wouldn’t listen to their waiting, and managed it so well that they went away as unsuspecting and tender as two lambs.  I waited till they were out of sight, and then I started straight for home.

I was in high glee till Mrs. Tanner came up stairs.