第70章

"Now, Aunt Lucy," resumed Paul, "I'll tell you what my plans are. You shall get into the chaise with me, and go at once to New York. I think Aunt Hester will be willing to receive you as a boarder; if not, I will find you a pleasant place near by.

Will that suit you?"

"It will make me very happy; but I cannot realize it.

It seems like a dream."

At this moment Mrs. Mudge entered the room, and, after a moment's scrutiny, pretended to recognize Paul.

Her husband followed close behind her.

"Can I believe my eyes?" she exclaimed.

"Is this indeed Paul Prescott?

I am very glad to see you back."

"Only a visit, Mrs. Mudge," said Paul, smiling.

"You'll stop to dinner, I hope?"

Paul thought of the soup and dry bread which he used to find so uninviting, and said that he should not have time to do so.

"We've thought of you often," said Mr. Mudge, writhing his harsh features into a smile. "There's scarcely a day that we haven't spoken of you."

"I ought to feel grateful for your remembrance," said Paul, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "But I don't think, Mr. Mudge, you always thought so much of me."

Mr. Mudge coughed in some embarrassment, and not thinking of anything in particular to say, said nothing.

"I am going to take from you another of your boarders," said Paul. "Can you spare Aunt Lucy?"

"For how long?" asked Mrs. Mudge.

"For all the time. She has just come into possession of a little property,--several hundred dollars a year,--and I have persuaded her to go to New York to board."

"Is this true?" exclaimed Mrs. Mudge in astonishment.

"Yes," said the old lady, "God has been bountiful to me when I least expected it."

"Can I be of any service in assisting you to pack up, Mrs.

Lee?" asked Mrs. Mudge, with new-born politeness. She felt that as a lady of property, Aunt Lucy was entitled to much greater respect and deference than before.

"Thank you, Mrs. Mudge," said Paul, answering for her.

"She won't have occasion for anything in this house.

She will get a supply of new things when she gets to New York.

The old lady looked very happy, and Mrs. Mudge, in spite of her outward deference, felt thoroughly provoked at her good fortune.

I will not dwell upon the journey to New York. Aunt Lucy, though somewhat fatigued, bore it much better than she had anticipated. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron entered very heartily into Paul's plans, and readily agreed to receive Aunt Lucy as an inmate of their happy and united household. The old lady felt it to be a happy and blessed change from the Poorhouse, where scanty food and poor accommodations had been made harder to bear by the ill temper of Mr. and Mrs. Mudge, to a home whose atmosphere was peace and kindness.

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And now, dear reader, it behooves us to draw together the different threads of our story, and bring all to a satisfactory Mr. and Mrs. Mudge are no longer in charge of the Wrenville Poorhouse. After Aunt Lucy's departure, Mrs. Mudge became so morose and despotic, that her rule became intolerable.