’Ono——Iamnotsurethatweought。Ididnotpromise，andtherewillbenotroubleinkeepingaway。’
Anneapparentlydidnotfeelcertainofherownopinion，and，insteadofsupportingorcontradicting，lookedthoughtfullydown，andabstractedlybroughtherhandstogetheronherbosom，tillherfingersmettiptotip。
Asthedayadvancedtheyoungwomanandhermotherbecameawarethatgreatpreparationswereinprogressinthemiller’swingofthehouse。ThepartitioningbetweentheLovedaysandtheGarlandswasnotverythorough，consistinginmanycasesofasimplescrewingupofthedoorsinthedividingwalls；andthuswhenthemillbegananynewperformancestheyproclaimedthemselvesatonceinthemoreprivatedwelling。ThesmellofMillerLoveday’spipecamedownMrs。
Garland’schimneyofaneveningwiththegreatestregularity。Everytimethathepokedhisfiretheyknewfromthevehemenceordeliberatenessoftheblowstheprecisestateofhismind；andwhenhewoundhisclockonSundaynightsthewhirrofthatmonitorremindedthewidowtowindhers。ThistransitofnoiseswasmostperfectwhereLoveday’slobbyadjoinedMrs。Garland’spantry；andAnne，whowasoccupiedforsometimeinthelatterapartment，enjoyedtheprivilegeofhearingthevisitorsarriveandofcatchingstraysoundsandwordswithouttheconnectingphrasesthatmadethementertaining，tojudgefromthelaughtertheyevoked。Thearrivalspassedthroughthehouseandwentintothegarden，wheretheyhadteainalargesummer-house，anoccasionalblinkofbrightcolour，throughthefoliage，beingallthatwasvisibleoftheassemblyfromMrs。Garland’swindows。Whenitgrewdusktheyallcouldbeheardcomingindoorstofinishtheeveningintheparlour。
Thentherewasanintensifiedcontinuationoftheabove-mentionedsignsofenjoyment，talkingsandhaw-haws，runningsupstairsandrunningsdown，aslammingofdoorsandaclinkingofcupsandglasses；tilltheproudestadjoiningtenantwithoutfriendsonhisownsideofthepartitionmighthavebeentemptedtowishforentrancetothatmerrydwelling，ifonlytoknowthecauseofthesefluctuationsofhilarity，andtoseeiftheguestswerereallysonumerous，andtheobservationssoveryamusingastheyseemed。