resumed.  During one of her visits I happened to hear her remark that a friend of hers, residing in Greenville, S. C., had commissioned her if possible to find her a governess for her three little daughters, who would be willing to remain for some years, and the salary she offered was very liberal.  Instantly my resolution to go South was taken.  As I had anticipated, I had some difficulty in obtaining the consent of my parents to my undertaking, but, when they found that my heart was really set on going, they at length consented.  I felt no fears regarding the journey, as I was to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Carlton on their homeward journey, and they promised to see me safely at my new home.  It is needless for me to dwell upon particulars.  I spent more than four years in the family of Mr. Leslie, where I went as governess.  I was kindly treated by them, and shall ever remember them with gratitude.  During the last six months of my residence with the Leslies, I became acquainted with Mr. Harringford, who is now my husband.  He was transacting some business in Greenville, which detained him for a considerable time.  I often met him at parties.  We were mutually pleased with each other, and, when he left Greenville, I was his promised wife.  My home is now at Jackson, in Tennessee, where Mr. Harringford resided previous to our marriage.

“I felt a strong desire to visit my parents, at New York, this summer; and, as Mr. Harringford had heard much of the beautiful scenery of the White Mountains, he persuaded me to accompany him to New Hampshire for the purpose of visiting them, and to that circumstance I owe the happiness of again meeting with you.  I have ever remembered you as the bashful school girl I left in Philadelphia, and when I found you so much changed you cannot wonder that I failed to recognize you.”

In my turn I narrated to Mrs. Harringford the events of my life since we parted.  Her tears flowed often as she listened to the particulars of my mother’s death, for she had much loved any mother.  I kept nothing back, not even the circumstance which had caused me to leave Mrs. Leighton.  The intimate friendship existing between us made it easy for me to speak freely to Mrs. Harringford.  She informed me that she intended visiting Philadelphia before returning South, as she had many old friends residing there.  As she contemplated visiting the Leightons, I exacted from her a promise that she would conceal from them her knowledge of my residence.  I had never once heard from them since leaving Philadelphia.

Mrs. Burnside was the only one with whom I had corresponded; and I had requested her to avoid mentioning the Leightons in her letters to me.  But of late I had felt a strong desire to hear from them, and I requested Mrs. Harringford to give me some account of the family in the letter she proposed writing from Philadelphia.

The party of young friends who had accompanied me from Littleton were quite ready to return at the expiration of a week; but Mrs. Harringford intended remaining a week longer, and she was very anxious that I should remain with her.  I therefore allowed my friends to return without me.  I wished to enjoy the society of Mrs. Harringford as long as possible, for I thought it quite probable that we might never meet again.