"Not Miss Wiltshire, I can credibly affirm. More than that I do not think it is fair to tell you."
"Well, well, I am perfectly satisfied, and now I think it is time for us to retrace our steps in the direction of home."
"And so our dear young lady is married, Ellen?" said Mrs. Williamson to her daughter, who had just returned from a visit to B----.
"Yes, mother, and a beautiful bride she made."
"Ay, I doubt it not, and as good as beautiful," said the father, who had just come in to Ellen's neat little cottage, to hear all the particulars connected with her late journey.
"And they treated you well, Ellen, did they not?"
"Treated me =well=? why, mother, it was like a new world; and they were so kind to me, took me to every place, and showed me everything worth seeing. And, dear me, but it is a beautiful city; such grand buildings, such water-works, such parks, all laid out with trees, and walks, and grass-plots, and seats, where you can rest whenever you choose,--and then at night, the splendid shops are so dazzlingly lit up, and the streets almost as bright as day. Oh, surely it is a fine thing to live in the city!"
"Ha, ha," said a clear, manly voice, and the speaker entered the door; "so my little bird has become restive since her taste of city life, and longs to fly away again."
"Indeed, Edward, that is not true. If I had been brought up to city-ways, I think I should like to live there; but, now, I like my home better, far better. I only wish we could have the meetings on Sunday, that I went to there; oh, mother," she said, as she turned suddenly round to address her, "it would have done your heart good to have heard the singing, and have listened to the sermons, and such grand churches, all crowded too."
"But I want to hear everything from the beginning," said Mr. Williamson.
"Well, then, I will commence my history from the time we got there. You know Miss Agnes was expecting me, and they kept a constant look-out, so that the vessel had not been an hour at the wharf, but what should I see but a splendid carriage, driven by two white horses, galloping down, and how overjoyed I was when Miss Agnes stepped out, and came on board, and ran up and kissed me, and we both shed tears, I believe, for I saw her put her handkerchief to her eyes, and I cried for joy at seeing her again. And then I must go right home with her; she would fain have had Edward, too, but he could not leave his vessel, yet was quite willing that I should go, so my trunk was handed in, we both stepped into the carriage, and were off in a few moments, Edward standing on the deck, watching till we were out of sight; at least I take that for granted.