Chapter XIII: Part 13

"Oh! Yes, I think it is best to begin as one means to keep on. I never believed in young married people boarding, and it is especially inconvenient for a minister. We shall have a very pleasant house—the one Mr. Fairfax built for Jenny, you know. The church, when it is built, will be just next door. I left Mammy planning about carpets and curtains as happy as possible."

"She and Edward will have hard work deciding to which house they belong—won't they?"

"I don't know," replied Olive laughing; "I think the Black Prince thinks that I am hardly able to take care of myself. Aunt has kindly promised to spare me Anne, so I shall have no trouble with servants to begin with."

After a short stay in Basswoods, where Olive received so many bridal presents as to materially increase her baggage, Mr. and Mrs. Landon returned to M. to find her house all prepared for them, with tea ready, Louisa looking out for them, and Anne in attendance.

The beautiful china which decorated the table, was at once recognized by Olive as part of a set upon the merits of which Laura had asked her opinion one day when they were in New-York. The house was elegantly but not splendidly furnished, though Louisa thought nothing had ever been seen more beautiful than the dark-green and crimson carpets and rosewood chairs. She could hardly allow her sister-in-law time to take off her bonnet, so anxious was she to display the contents of closets, book-cases, drawing-room, and study, and especially her own little room with its blue and white bed, table, and chairs all to match, and its little book-case and desk, which Mrs. Merton said was to be all her own. It was not till she had done the honors of the whole house that she remembered that her brother and sister might possibly like something to eat after their ride.

They had hardly finished their tea before a ring was heard, and in came Mrs. Merton and Charlotte, closely followed by aunt Dimsden, all anxious to see Olive, and know how she liked her new house. Mrs. Merton was in her most gracious mood, and Louisa listened with blushing delight to her commendation of her own conduct during her brother's absence. The house had again to be passed in review; and the presents of friends to be discussed and praised. The silk quilt which Olive had brought from Basswoods, and upon which Anna and Phebe Jones had been employed for a year previous, was displayed and admired, as well as Mrs. Felton's knit counterpane, Ruth's beautiful embroidery, and Augusta's Chinese screens and tea-trays. Charlotte thought Olive would have to have a fancy-fair to get rid of the quantities of book-marks, pen-wipers, glove-boxes, and other small articles presented by the younger part of the congregation.

"Well, Olive," were Mrs. Dimsden's parting words, "you see I was right, after all. I knew you would marry a minister, and really," she concluded, glancing at Walter as she spoke, "taking all things into consideration, I doubt if you could have done better even if I had found you a husband myself."