When Aunt Lucinda came forward to welcome
us, I at once noticed the remarkable change in her appearance; one would
have supposed that at least ten years had been taken from her age since
I last saw her, and her whole manner was so cheerful and sprightly that
I was at a loss to understand what could have happened; but I never
dreamed of the truth till after tea, when Aunt Lucinda rose and said: "I
want to see you, Walter, alone in the parlor." I followed her, secretly
wondering what wonderful revelation I was to listen to. When we were
seated, she said with her old abrupt manner, "Well, Walter, you have
heard Nathan talk about Joshua Blake, he has come back and we are going
to be married to-morrow and I have sent for you to attend the wedding.
You may well look astonished to hear an old woman like me talk about
getting married; and the land knows what Deacon Martin's folks will say;
but as long as they have liberty to say whatever they please, they
needn't complain. You remember hearing Nathan laugh about Joshua Blake
and his red hair years ago, perhaps you thought there was no such person
in the world but there was.
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