At length she asked again, putting her hand in her lover's: "Are you ready ?" "Yes!" said Alfred, in a crisp, resolute tone.
Fanny raised her hand and rang the bell.

The waiter appeared.
"John, I want a carriage immediately." "Yes, Miss." "And, John, tell Mary to bring me my things.

I am going out." "Yes, Miss." And hearing nothing farther, John disappeared.
It was perhaps a judicious instinct which taught Fanny not to leave Alfred alone by going up to array herself in her own chamber.

The intervals of delay between the coming of the maid and the coming of the carriage the young woman employed in conversing dexterously about Boston, and the friends he had seen there, and in describing to him the great Kingfisher ball.
Presently she was bonneted and cloaked, and the carriage was at the door.
Her home had not been a Paradise to Fanny Newt--nor were Aunt Dagon, Papa and Mamma Newt, and brother Abel altogether angels.

She had no superfluous emotions of any kind at any time; but as she passed through the hall she saw her sister May--the youngest child--a girl of sixteen--Uncle Lawrence's favorite--standing upon the stairs.
She said nothing; the hall was quite dim, and as the girl stood in the half light her childlike, delicate beauty seemed to Fanny more striking than ever.