The first page contained assurances of love; the second congratulated Fanny upon her engagement with Frank, but chided her for suffering Lida Gibson to be the bearer of the news.  “Why did you not write to me yourself?” she said—­“that is the way I shall do, and now to prove my words, you will see how confiding I am.”  Then followed the intelligence that Dr. Lacey had the night before offered his heart and hand and of course had been accepted.  “You will not wonder at it,” she wrote, “for you know how much I have always loved him.  I was, however, greatly surprised when he told me he always preferred me to you, but was prevented from telling me so by my silly engagement with Mr. Wilmot and my supposed affection for him.”  The letter ended by saying that Dr. Lacey would accompany her home some time during the latter part of October, when their marriage would take place.  There was also a “P.S.,” in which Julia wrote, “Do, Fan, use your influence with the old man and make him fix up the infernal old air castle.  I’d as soon be married in the horse barn as there.”

This, then, was the letter which affected Fanny so, and called all of Uncle Joshua’s biggest oaths into use.  Mrs. Middleton tried to calm her husband and remind him of his promise not to swear.  “I know it,” said he, “I know I promised not to swear, and for better than two months I hain’t swore, but I can’t help it now.  And yet I expected it.  I know’d ’twould be so when I let Tempest go to New Orleans.  But he’ll run himself into a hornet’s nest, and I ain’t sure but it’s just the punishment for him.”

“Why, then, do you rave so?” asked Mrs. Middleton.

“Because,” answered her husband, “when I let Tempest go, I’d no idee Sunshine cared so much for him.  If I had, I’d have slung a halter round Tempest’s neck and tied her up in the hoss barn she likes so well!”

The old man was evidently piqued at Julia’s thrust at the old house.  “Fix up!  A heap I’ll fix up for her to be married,” continued he.

“Then you’ll give your consent?” said Mrs. Middleton.

“Consent!  Who’s asked any consent?” replied he, “and ’tain’t likely they will nuther; and if I should refuse, Tempest wouldn’t mind clamberin’ out of the chimbly to run away, and the doctor has showed himself jest as mean.  No; he may have her and go to the old boy for all of Josh.  But what’s this about Cameron?  I hope ’tis so, but I’m mighty feared it ain’t.  Sunshine can’t love two at a time.”

While Mr. Middleton was thus expending his fury, Fanny was alone in her room, struggling hard to subdue the bitter feelings which were rising in her heart.  Until now she had not been aware how much she loved Dr. Lacey.  True, she had said it was impossible she could ever marry him; and she had believed she was trying to forget him; but ever in her heart she had, perhaps unconsciously, cherished a half formed belief that all would yet be well, and when she refused the noble, generous heart which Frank Cameron laid