"When you have seen the minister, go down to Mrs. Farnham's, and ask them all to come—Mr. Farnham, his mother, and Salina. After that call for Judge Sharp."
"Do you want them at ten?"
"Yes!"
Aunt Hannah went out, and from that hour till after nine, was shut up alone in the out-room. The family sat down to breakfast without her, marvelling why she chose to fast, that morning, all but uncle Nathan—he remembered that it was the anniversary of his sister's death; and when he came in from the performance of his errands, there was a gentle look of tenderness on his face that made those around long to comfort him.
After breakfast aunt Hannah came forth, still very pale, but with a look of serene resolution that no one had ever observed on her face before.
"Children," she said, addressing Joseph and Mary Fuller, "tell me, once again, that you love one another."
"We do—we do?" cried the young pair, lifting their faces, full of holy sunshine, to hers, while their hands crept together, and intertwined unconsciously.
"And you would be glad to marry this girl, Joseph?"
"Marry her!" exclaimed the youth, trembling from head to foot, "how dare I—how can I?"
"Answer me, Joseph, yes or no, would it make you happy, if within an hour, this girl could be your wife, to live with you, and love you for ever and ever?"