Thurston’s good fortune was not over.  His star was still in the ascendant, for after the morning service, while the congregation were leaving the church, he saw Mrs. Waugh beckon him to her side.  He quickly obeyed the summons.  And then, the lady said: 

“I may not see you again soon, Thurston, and, therefore, I tell you now—­that if you intend to join our party to Washington, you must make all your arrangements to come ever to Locust Hill on Tuesday evening, and spend the night with us; as we start at a very early hour on Wednesday morning, and should not like to be kept waiting.  My Hebe is also coming on Tuesday evening, to stay all night.  Now, not a word, Thurston, I know what dilatory folks young people are.  And I know very well that if I don’t make sure of you on Tuesday evening, you will keep us a full hour beyond our time on Wednesday morning—­you know you will.”

Thurston was secretly delighted.  To spend the evening with Marian! to spend the night under the same roof with her—­preparatory to their social journey in the morning.  Thurston began to think that he was born under a lucky planet.  He laughingly assured Mrs. Waugh that he had not the slightest intention or wish to dispute her commands, and that on Tuesday evening he should present himself punctually at the supper-table at Locust Hill.  He further informed her that as his grandfather had most arbitrarily forced upon him the use of his new gig, he should bring it, and offer Miss Mayfield a seat.

It was now Mrs. Waugh’s turn to be delighted, and to declare that she was very glad—­that it would be so much easier and pleasanter to her Hebe, than the cold, exposed, and fatiguing equestrian manner of traveling.  “But mind, young gentleman, you are not to make love to my Hebe! for we all think her far too good for mortal man!” laughed Mrs. Waugh.

Thurston gravely promised that he would not—­if he could help it.  And so, with mutual good feeling, they shook hands and separated.

On Monday evening, at his farewell lecture, Thurston met Marian again, and joyfully announced to her the invitation that Mrs. Waugh had extended to him.  And the maiden’s delightful smile assured him of her full sympathy with his gladness.

And on Tuesday evening, the whole party for Washington was assembled around the tea-table at Locust Hill.  The evening passed very cheerily.  The commodore, Mrs. Waugh, Marian and Thurston, were all in excellent spirits.  And Thurston, out of pure good nature, sought to cheer and enliven the pretty, peevish bride, Jacquelina, who, out of caprice, affected a pleasure in his attentions that she was very far from feeling.  This gave so much umbrage to Dr. Grimshaw that Mrs. Waugh really feared some unpleasant demonstration from the grim bridegroom, and seized the first quiet opportunity of saying to the young gentleman: 

“Do, Thurston, leave Lapwing alone!  Don’t you see that that maniac is as jealous as a Turk?”