"Dear Betty," she said, "it is doubtless a very good thing to be in love
with a stranger romantically, but still--"
"He is no stranger," said Betty quickly.
"No, no, not to be called a stranger," cried Mary, laughing--"an old and
valued friend of two months' standing."
"The time is short," said Betty thoughtfully. "But a whole lifetime
seems to have passed in that space! My father," she cried, as Mr. Ives
entered the room, "here is Mistress Mary Jones."
"Come to offer my warmest good wishes," said the lady, "and also all the
assistance in my power when the important day approaches."
"I shall indeed be glad and grateful for your help," said Betty
affectionately.
Mr. Ives persuaded Mary to remain for supper. The candles were brought
in, and the room looked bright and cheery.
"Stay with me and cheer my loneliness," said the parson cheerily. "The
young folk will stroll in the garden till supper be ready. I am too old
for dewy twilight walks, egad."
Was it a new idea that flashed into Mary's mind that caused her to
start? She glanced at Mr. Ives' comely person, at his glossy cassock,
his smartly-buckled shoes, at the neat tie-wig which surmounted a face
which she hastily pronounced as handsome as it ever had been.
With a sweep of her fan Mistress Mary renounced her waning youth.
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