On the afternoon of the day which was of such importance in the lives of two of our characters, Mr. Holbrooke returned from a survey of his orchard, to be met by his wife with a face full of mysterious importance.
"I've got some news, James," she said. "Now guess what it is—
"Sophia has heard from one of her old beaux," said her husband immediately.
"Get a pail of water and throw it over your dad, Sophia," said Mrs. Holbrooke. "He's always joking you about your beaux. Well," she added, "I see I'll have to tell you, you'll never guess. Charles Herne has just gone by here with a bran-new suit of clothes, a bran-new matched team, a bran-new harness, a bran-new buggy, and a bran-new wife. There! What do you think of that?"
"Why," said her husband, "I think you may see them go by here some day with a brand-new baby."
"The idea of your talking that way before Sophia; that's the way with you men, your mind is always run on such things."
"Well," said her husband, "I don't think such a subject is very foreign to your mind or Sophia's either."
"Sophy, let's you and I take your dad and throw him. We can do it," said Mrs. Holbrooke.
Since the newly-married couple that caused so much interest in the Holbrooke family had gone by, Sophia had laid down her novel, "The Banker's Daughter," and was gazing dreamily out of the window. The young lady being of a rather romantic turn of mind, had just been saying to herself, "What a perfect day to be married. Will everything be as beautiful on my wedding day, I wonder?"
"Well," said Mrs. Holbrooke, "whoever the lady may be, she has got a good man and a lovely home."