It was, perhaps, three months after this event, that the now happy family were seated in a beautifully furnished parlor, large enough to suit even Mrs.Turner's ideas.

Something had turned their thoughts on the past, and Mary alluded to their sad experience in keeping boarders.
"You did not lose much, did you ?" asked her husband.
"We sunk over two thousand dollars," Mary replied.
"Is it possible! You paid rather dear, then, for your experience in keeping a boarding house." "So I then thought," Mary answered, looking into his face with a smile, "But I believe it was money well laid out.

What you call a good investment." "How so ?" Mary stooped down to the ear of her husband, who sat a little behind her mother, and whispered, "You are dull, dear--I got you by it, didn't I ?" His young wife's cheek was very convenient, and his lips touched it almost involuntarily.
"What is that, Mary ?" asked her mother, turning towards them, for she had heard her remark, and was waiting for the explanation.
"Oh, nothing, mother, it was only some of my fun." "You seem quite full of fun, lately," said Mrs.Turner, with a quiet smile of satisfaction, and again bent her eyes upon the book she was reading..