Charles Mayfield lives,"
answered the girl.
"Next door? No; _you_ mistake, surely. My nephew Charley can't live
there!"
"Yes, sir. But his--" What the girl was going to say was stopped by a
jovial voice in the next door, calling out: "Uncle, here! How are
you?" And a moment more the pleasant old gentleman was caught by both
hands and drawn along to the next house. His nephew Charley saying:
"I'm so delighted to see you! Come in!"
Into the parlor he was carried, and seated in a very comfortable
arm-chair. The interior was more inviting than the outside. It told
very plainly that the wife did her duty toward making everything as
nice as possible; in a word, making the best of her means.
A very short time after a sweet-faced little woman entered, and was
presented by Charley, saying:
"Here is your niece, uncle."
The old gentleman received her welcome greeting by a return of real
affection. His heart warmed immediately to his nephew's wife. She bore
the traces of beauty which had been chased away by an over-amount of
care, the uncle very soon felt sure. There was an unmistakable look of
weariness and anxiety in her eyes.
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