CHAPTER XXVI. MILLY'S RETURN.

ThevisitofClaytonandhissister,likeallotherpleasantthings,haditsend.Claytonwascalledbacktohislaw-officeandbooks,andAnnewenttomakesomesummervisitsprevioustohergoingtoClayton'splantationofMagnoliaGrove,whereshewastosuperintendhisvariousschemesfortheimprovementofhisnegroes. AlthoughitwasgravelyinsistedtothelastthattherewasnoengagementbetweenNinaandClayton,itbecameevidentenoughtoallpartiesthatonlythenamewaswanting.ThewarmestpossiblefriendshipexistedbetweenNinaandAnneand,notwithstandingthatNinaalmosteverydaysaidsomethingwhichcrossedAnne'snicely-adjustedviews,andnotwithstandingAnnehadagentleinfusionofthatdispositiontosermonizewhichoftenexistsinveryexcellentyoungladies,stillthetwogotonexcellentlywelltogether. Itistobeconfessedthat,theweekaftertheyleft,Ninawasratherrestlessandlonesome,andtroubledtopasshertime.Anincident,whichweshallrelate,however,gavehersomethingtothinkof,andopensanewpageinourstory. Whilesittingontheveranda,afterbreakfast,herattentionwascalledbyvariousexclamationsfromthenegrodepartment,ontherightsideofthemansionand,lookingout,tohergreatsurprise,shesawMillystandingamidagroup,whoweresurroundingherwitheagerdemonstrations.Immediatelysherandownthestepstoinquirewhatitmightmean.Approachingnearer,shewassomewhatstartledtoseethatheroldfriendhadherheadboundupandherarminasling:and,asshecametowardsher,sheobservedthatsheseemedtowalkwithdifficulty,withagaitquitedifferentfromherusualfirm,hilarioustread. "Why,Milly!"shesaid,runningtowardsherwitheagerness,"whatisthematter?" "Notmuch,chile,Ireckon,nowI'sgothome!"saidMilly. "Well,butwhat'sthematterwithyourarm?" "Nogreat!Datarmanshotmebut,praisedeLord,hedidn'tkillme!Idon'towehimnogrudgebutIthoughtitwasn'trightandfitthatIshouldbetreatedsoandsoIjustput!" "Why,comeinthehousethisminute!"saidNina,laying