any moral gloom pertaining to Hepzibah and her inmates) by the unassisted light of his countenance. On perceiving a young rose-bud of a girl, instead of the gaunt presence of the old maid, a look of surprise was manifest. He at first knit his brows; then smiled with more unctuous benignity than ever.

“Ah, I see how it is!” said he in a deep voice, — a voice which, had it come from the throat of an uncultivated man, would have been gruff, but, by dint of careful training, was now sufficiently agreeable, — ”I was not aware that Miss Hepzibah Pyncheon had commenced business under such favorable auspices.

You are her assistant, I suppose?”

“I certainly am,” answered Phoebe, and added, with a little air of lady-like assumption