Hammond Bramhall paused a moment to gather a little assumption,
and then tapped lightly upon the side of the door with his
ungloved finger. The widow started and looked up, for she was
at that moment in a brown study, musing upon the chances against
the probability that the Domine, when he became her lord, would
take any undue power upon himself in the little kingdom where
she had so long ruled over Captain Ben, and latterly as an absolute
potentate. She half frowned when she saw who it was, and but
smiled as he smiled, and bowed and invited him in.

`Set down, sir! I thought you were gone to bed sir! I trust
your room suits you, sir. The sheets are well aired and its a nice
mattrass with a feather bed under! Sit down, sir!--take this rocking
chir---the `other is quilted and may lint your coat, Some gentlemen
I know is mighty particular about lint. This is my `sanctus'
sir; Preceptor Tobitt calls it my cabinet, and says this chair is my
throne, ha, ha, ha!' and the widow shook her fat sides, and verily
one would have believed, if they did not peer too closely into her
hard unchanging eye, that she was the best natured, nice body in

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the world. `You don't know the `master,' sir! he's a real funny
man when it takes his humor. He's been makin' me laugh with
his quips ever since I showed you and that humphack gentleman
up to bed!'

`No doubt, master Tobitt is a very clever person; he cannot be
otherwise, good Mrs. Power, if he has the faculty of entertaining
so intelligent a lady as yourself,' answered Hammond, who with
admirable tact could adapt himself to any character he came in
contact with; for he was really a young man of no ordinary mind,
though he at times affected foppery of language and manner; but
his mind had been vitiated and his talents were now turned from
their higher uses to subserve the lowest ends. Yet he could at
any time re-assume the outward semblance of that dignity of character
which belongs to the true gentleman, and thus like a moral
Janus he presented two opposite faces to society; one was stamped
with all his vices! the other with a fair copy of all the virtues
which he had not! In the presence of his cousin Gabrielle he was
an accomplished `hypocrite;' in that of Fanny an open designing
libertine. He closely eyed the widow, to study the effect of his
words, every one of which had its errand towards the developement
of her character. He saw that she was gratified at the compliment,
and that his way was easy. `This gentleman is no doubt
the village school-master,' he added.

`Yes, sir, Master Tobitt has kept here for two years and better.
A very nice man for the childer'. He has boarded with me ever
since my poor dear husband died, a year ago last April. Its a lone
life a widow's, sir.'

`I should think it your own fault, Mrs. Power, if you remain long
a widow,' answered Hammond gallantly. `That's a pretty ring
on your little finger.'

`That's Master Tobitt's taste,' she answered suffering the young
man to take her fat hand and dally with it.

`Ah, master Toby, eh!' and he looked at her significantly full in
the eyes. The widow tried to blush very prettily, but as her face
was always a full red, the result of her efforts, if successful, were
not apparent. `I comprehend the affair, Mrs. Power. So Mr.
Tobitt is the happy man.'

`We are to be married to-morrow night,' said the widow.

`So soon! I am half resolved to stay to the bridal, for the sake
of giving a kiss to the bride. Upon my honor, you must have
been a beauty on your first marriage eve!

`Mr. Snip told me yesterday that I had not changed, in his eye,
the turning of a lap-board since I was sixteen.'

`Mr. Snip is a man of penetration.'

`He is and says so many pleasant things that I alvays gives him
a dram when he comes in.'

`He cannot fail to make himself agreeable to a person so generous.
'

`He's very different from Tony Taft, our barber, who never took
but one dram in his life and that was ginger pop a fortnight ago,
which made him tipsy---the weak toddle-brain! I wish I had my
will with him, he should never step foot in this tavern again!'

`How has Mr. Tony Taft drawn upon himself your displeasure.'

`He makes too free of admiration of my Fanny and, when he
promised two weeks ago to —'

Here the widow bit her tongue and stopped short in her speech,
for she had nigh betrayed her negotiation about the sale of Fanny's
locks; a trader, though feeling herself perfectly justifiable
in carrying it through, she did not care to have made known.
Hammond instantly divined that she was going to betray something
about Fanny and internally resolved to know it. Her allusion to
her also afforded him the opportunity he sought to speak of her
without abruptly awaking her suspicion.

`This barber must be a pressing fellow,' he said in suitable tone
of indignant feeling. `Fanny---a pretty name---she cannot have any
regard for such a low person!'

`She! No! I'd like to catch her having a regard for any body
low or high!'

`Certainly; she possesses too great beauty to be suffered to torm
promiscuous acquaintances. I am glad Mrs. Power—nay permit
me to say, in anticipation, Mrs. Tobitt, (here the widow dropped
her eyes, and simpered and exclaimed affectedly, `an't you ashamed,
sir!') that you are so discreet with her. She is a nice girl!

`We'll change the subject if you please, sir,' she said gravely.

`Nay, my good madam,' said Hammond taking out an elegant
watch and beginning slowly to wind it up, `this is the very subject
I came in here to talk with you about! Let me place this ring
which I take from my guard chain, upon your middle finger,
which it seems to have been made for, and do me the honor to accept
of it as a bridal present.'

`Oh, sir, that is two handsome for you to part with.'

`Therefore I do it the more readily, that you may have proof of
the regard I entertain for you. Nay, I will place it on myself!'

`If Master Tobitt should happen to see you now,' she said smiling,
as he forced the brilliant smoothly over the fat knuckles to its place.

`The bridal finger of your left hand is all he can lay claim to.
It is very becoming!'

`Very handsome! How it sparkles! Is it a real diamond, sir?'
she said surveying it with an avaricious eye, the true expression
of which he readily understood, and beheld with secret satisfaction.

`Nothing less costly should adorn your hand, fair widow. This
Master Tobitt is to be envied. But are you not afraid to keep so
pretty a maiden in the way of his temptation, as Fanny. No men
are to be trusted, Mrs. Power! even your charms might not be
sufficient to dazzle your husband's eyes, so that he should not see
this young girl's beauty. You see I am your friend and speak
freely, Mrs. Power!'

`Yes, sir, I am satisfied you mean well,' answered the widow
turning pale and speaking in a weak, fluttering voice, for the firebrand
he had cast, had ignited the comhustibles of jealousy in her
bosom. `But the girl,' here her voice was raised and her colour
came back with a quick flush, `dare not suffer him to speak to her!
He dare not look at her! Let me catch him!'

`But Mrs. Power, you cannot always have watch over him at
all times, nor over her. You cannot but see that I have in view
only your peace and honor, as you have been so frank to me, as to
make me the confidant of your approaching nuptials. I should
deeply regret any occurrence thereafter, that should cast a cloud
over the sunshine of your second marriage!'

The widow made no reply, but sat thoughtful and ill at ease in
her mind, as the agitated motion of her body plainly showed. Plans
of rage and vengeance rolled through it like a succession of thunder
gusts, and she was bewildered with the confusion in her brain.
At length she spoke, and her voice was low but determined.

`I have made up my mind. The girl shall be sent to the poor
house where she belongs. She shall go to-morrow morning before
breakfast, and I will lead her there myself. I have done too much
for her, the ungrateful huzzy and this is my returns for it. Charity
sir, never was properly rewarded in this world, sir, and them as
takes in a pauper must be content with a pauper's pay. The jade
tramps in the morning.'

`Those we do most for, Mrs Power, are often the most unthankful.
They feel they owe a debt, and this feeling too often begets
a false idea of dependence and dislike.'

`Yes---I know she al'ays hated me! But she's got her walking
papers at sun-up, I'll pay a girl fifty cents a week to do my work,
and I know I'll save it in what she would lose me in waste and
broken dishes, the careless good-for-nothing!'

`I am gratified, dear Mrs. Power, to see you view this matter
in its proper light. A great deal of domestic mischief has often
came from having too pretty a servant about the house!'

`Yes, I need not be told that; and now I'm to be married again,
I dont mean to have it thrown up at me.'

`Is the poor-house near by?'

`Just at the end o' the town, in the old field. Its an old brick
house with no fence, and rags stuck in the windows. She'll have
to work there, and wear rags. She dont take away from here any
thing but what she has on her back that's poz. I giv' her a nice
calico gown a month ago as good as new. I and Jenny only had
worn it a year a piece, and I'll take it back again.'

`Had she no clothes when she came to you?'

`No---yes---some childs' clothes---all worn out by her long ago.
All there is belonging to her here, is an old trunk up garret, I keep
my piller-cases in. She dont get that.'

`Now, let me say a word to you Mrs. Powers! This young
girl has, you tell me, been long an expense to you and given you no
return.'

`Nothin' but imperdence,' answered the woman, with a lie on
her lips that even her malicious heart condemned her for.

`It is right and needful for your wedded peace, that you send her
away—'

`She goes,' interrupted the widow with pertinacity.

`And should go! But if you take her to the work-house, will
you be remunerated by the selectmen for all you have done for
her?'

`I ought to be, that's clear, but I know I could'nt get a cent.'

`Probably not; but it is, nevertheless, just, that you should have
some compensation by means of her.'

`That is true and what I have said,' she answered at once recurring
to Fanny's hair, which she had made the basis of her hopes
of gain out of her.

`Now let me, since you have decided to part with her, propose
a plan by which you will be profited.'

`I had a plan and if it had not been for—' here she hesitated
to divulge it to him.

`This is what I would suggest. Be so good, Mrs. Power, as to
oblige me by accepting this half eagle as a pocket piece. This is
my plan,' he continued as the widow with a brightening eye, took
the gold coin and said `oh, you are too free, sir.'

`But had I not best close that stair door, I thought I heard a
listener!'

`It's only the cat. There's no body up there but that Fan, and
she is in my room asleep with the door shut. If she has been
eves-droppin' tehn she knows what's in store for her. Let me catch

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her listening! But I will see, for I did think I heard something;
and here's the cat by my rocker!'

With this, the widow caught up the candle and hastened up
stairs and entered her chamber. The door was, indeed, just ajar,
but Fanny was lying upon the straw mattrass at the foot of the bed
apparently in profound sleep. The widow looked at her a moment
shedding the glare of the light upon her lovely features, and waving
it across her deeply fringed eye-lids; and watching for a moment
the soft, regular heaving of her bosom, seemed satisfied that she
slept.

`It was not you at any rate, Miss, and well for you it was'nt.
Sleep on for this is your last night in this house!' Here, as she
was turning away, her eyes were attracted by her glorious hair
which covered the coarse bolster with a cloud of brightness and
beauty. `Yes, and you shall not take that head of hair with you;
if any body is going to profit by it, I'll be the one. The selectmen
'll be sure to shave it, and sell it, and I'll get the start on 'em.
It comes off every curl of it this night before I sleep and while she
is sunk so sound!' With this resolution she closed and fastened
the door and returned to the room below.

`It was'nt her—it must ha' been the wind,' said she smiling,
and closing also the stair door and re-seating herself in her redbaize
rocking chair.

`Well, this is my plan, Mrs. Power. In Boston there is a female
friend of mine, a nice, respectable person, who is a French mantuamaker.
With my recommendation she would take this young girl
Fanny off your hands, and apprentice her.'

`That would be too good for the proud upstart beauty. It would
be just what she would like?'

`Mrs. Fontan is a severe mistress; and besides my good Mrs.
Power, the liking or the contrary of the girl, could have no weight
with you, so long as you profited by the arrangement. And besides,
it were safer to have her quite removed from the vicinity,
for your future hushand would not be quite beyond temptation
even where she sent to the work-house' If the widow had been
a more penetrating person, she must here have seen instantly
through Hammond Bramhall's motives; for in his eagerness to
strengthen his argument he advanced one too many, and too
transparent a one, for any optics but those which like the widows',
were blinded by jealousy.

`That's true,' she exclaimed with great positiveness; `but the
profit, Mr.—, what shall I call your name?'

`Hammond—Jupiter Ammon, you may call me, ma'm.'

`Seems to me I've heard the name before, sir.'

`Yes, ma'm, no doubt; its very old and respectable name, I
assure you.'

`I don't doubt it, Mr. Ammon, you has the appearance of a gentleman
yourself.'

`Thank you, ma'm.'

`As I am saying, Mr. Ammon, how is Fanny's goin' to this
Mrs. Fountain, to benefit me for all my ten years charity? a bargain's
a bargain you know, Mr. Ammon, and where money's between,
words is no bones if they isn't to the purpose.'

`You are quite right, Mrs. Power. So let us discuss the matter
in a business way. If you will agree to surrender Fanny to Mrs.
Fontan, I will place in your hands twenty dollars now, this moment,
and twenty dollars when she leaves in the stage to-morrow afternoon—
for I shall make it a point to see her into the coach for town,
and give her a note with the address of the lady.'

`Done,' exclaimed the widow, slapping her hand upon her knee
with the emphasis of an old turf-better.

`There are twenty dollars, madam!' said the triumphant young
man, opening his pocket-book. `Current notes you see. Tomorrow
I shall leave the getting her consent to you.'

`That I'll get, for go she shall; what I fear is she'll be to ready.'

`So much the better then. You care not for this so that you
are the gainer. I can assure you she will not find her lot changed
for the better.'

`No—that she wont! I have al'ays been like a mother to her.'

`We now understand each other, Mrs. Power,' said Hammond
significantly, and rising up.

`Yes—twenty now and twenty when she gets ready to take the
stage.'

`Precisely. And, Mrs. Power, you must let her have her trunk
and what clothes she has got, for I would like she should make a decent
appearance, till' she can improve her wardrobe.'

`Don't you think you ought to allow me a little for the trunk
and two new—good as new gowns, and a straw bonnet and such
thing's, I've given her off and on,' said the money craving widow,
who was now sufficiently made aware by the large douceur he had
so freely placed in her hands, what motive prompted this exhibition
of interest for Fanny; but this conviction, which should
have awakened any womanly feeling in her heart, produced no
impression—inspired no wish to avert her fate! Cupidity and avarice
destroyed in her every better sentiment. Perhaps, had not
the possession of so much money dazzled her, she would have refused
participation in such a negotiation. But as it was, she
drove the troublesome thoughts, her discovering of his probable
intentions awoke in her, quite from her mind and let her covetousness
take the reins of her guilty spirit and drive rough-shod over
her conscience.

Hammond smiled scornfully at her suggestion and gave her, or,
rather, flung her a sovereign.

`There!'

But the widow had not done yet. Gold only made her more
covetous for gold. One thing more, Mr. Ammon! `You know
I said as how I had a plan to get something back for all I had done
for Fanny.'

`Yes,' answered the young man briefly and impatiently.

`Well—you know how much and how long her hair is! a yard
long if its an inch, and so much she can't find a comb to keep up
only the longest part of it, while the shorter curls go down all about
her shoulders. Well—Mr. Tony Taft the barber offered me five
dollars for it!'

`Good God! you did not have such a thought as that of cutting
it,' exclaimed Hammond with indignant surprise: for the extraordinary
beauty of Fanny's hair had not escaped his practiced eye.

`What would a body do, Mr. Ammon. Five dollars is five dollars,
and the girl had no business with such a head o' hair. It had
better been cut off to make curls for ladies, for it only made her vain.'

`And well might she be vain of it. I cannot be too thankful to
you for not committing such an act.'

`But, Mr. Ammon,' she persevered, as he was leaving the `sanctus',
`you know five dollars is five dollars! and as Fanny's hair is
at this very minute just as good as a five dollar gold piece if I
should cut it off and sell it to a barber in Boston—'

`You don't mean to say, woman, you have still any such intention
as you have named!' he said sternly.

`Why, if I let it stay on, it will be as good as a dead loss of five
dollars; so sir, if you care about it perhaps you would be willin'
to give me the five dollars I could get for it. You see its a business
operation, Mr. Ammon. Another five will make the whole
sum just fifty!'

Hammond came near swearing out roundly in his indigration at
this proposition, but checking himself, lest, making her angry, he
should lose all the advantage he had gained, he quietly laid another
gold piece in her hand, saying:

`Now do not fail me to-morrow, Mrs. Power!'

`No; you may trust me, Mr. Ammon,' she replied with a smile.

He then left the room, full of the joyous anticipation of soon entrapping
the beautiful girl in the snare he was setting for her, and
again sought his chamber. Mrs. Power remained a few moments
where he had left her standing, and then finding the house still
again, she closed both doors of her sanctus and opened a bureau and
took out a small trunk, with which she sat down, placing it upon
her knees. It seemed weighty, and on her unlocking it it proved
to be half full of silver and bank notes, nicely done up in parcels,
and labelled 5's, 10's and 20's. She gazed upon her little Bank of treasure
with a delighted eye, and then upon the several sums held in
her hand, which she had received from Hammond Bramhall. Inspired
by the gains of the evening, she resolved before adding them
to her horde, to count over all the silver and see how much she
possessed. At once she began the pleasing task, and in a few minutes
she had so completely transfused her soul into the little piles
of metal she had placed in columns around the edge of a chair, that
she was lost to all external things; and the first intimation that
she had of her earthly existence was the sudden sinking and expiring
of the candle in its socket, leaving her and her gold and silver
in the dark.

`Fanny! you Fan, you! get up and go to the kitchen and make
me a light,' she scremed, fearing to move lest she should overthrow
her piles of money, and scatter her bank notes. `I say,
Fanny Power—Fan devil, get up, you jade, and get a candle and
light it!'

There was no answer, and the widow, boiling over with wrath,
withdrew herself as carefully as her resentment would let her,
from the midst of her money, and felt her way to the stair door,
which she opened with a bang backwards, and again called. The
silence was as profound as before.

`I'll wake you up with a vengeance to it,' she muttered, going
into the bar and taking up a large water-pitcher, filled, with which
she picked her way back again, and mounted the stairs. She
threw wide the door of the chamber, and making one step forward
dashed the water upon Fanny's bolster. There was no movement—
no sound that followed this copious bath, and with a half-misgiving
of the truth, the widow felt down and found the mattrass
unoccupied.

With a shrick between rage and astonishment, mixed with not a
little vexation, at having drowned the bed to no end, she shuffled
and searched about the dark room, felt underneath the bed, and
groped in the closet, all the time calling her, and overloading her
with abuse. At length she stumbled against the window, which
was open, and out of which she had nearly pitched before she could
recover herself.

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