d, "but I ain't situated so I can jest now, an' it's a dreadful puzzle to know who to leave out without offendin' them. I'm goin' to have the minister an' his wife anyhow, an' Lawyer Tux

goin' to ask. Now you an' L

ly after the dinner dishes were put away, about one o'clock, she spoke to Lois in the harsh, defiant

ois's face. "I ain't going,

did yo

n't g

to get your mother into trouble an' make

Jane Field stood before her little mirror, brushed her gray hair in smooth curves around her ears, and pi

ee that young man again. Lois was bewildered and terrified, borne down by reflected guilt, almost as if it were her own. She had a wild dread of this going out to tea, meeting

pped out of the door, a str

e went back into the house and got L

is put

the yards and the fruit trees bowed toward the west. There was a storm of white petals. Lois, as

arious improvements. There was a large ornate bay-window in front, which contrasted oddly with the severe white peak of wall above it; the piazzas had railings in elaborate scroll-work; and the windows were set with four large panes of glass, instead of the original twelve small ones. The fron

nding straight and white in the midst of a votive circle of box. The walk,

bell, and she and Lois st

n' round to the other door," she announce

on the south piazza. Mrs. Field rang again, and they waited: then she gave a harder

ceremonious. "Open the door an' go right in, an' turn to the right, an' s

and the long lace curtains, and thought, with a hardening heart, how, at all events, she was not defrauding this other woman of a fine parlor. It was to her mind much more splendid than the sittin

et, the rattle of dishes, and the closing of a door. They sat primly waiting. They

el well?" ask

well enough,"

nough," said her

w at the marble girl in the

nd old ribbons. She had on a black lace head-dress trimme

late about dinner. Do take off your things. Flora she'll be down in a few minutes; she's

sat beside the window, her hands folded meekly

fancy-work, Lois?"

much," replied h

thing in the house; he was terrible set and notional about it and he was terrible tight with his money. I don't care if I do say it; everybody knows it; an' I don't see why it's any worse to say things that's true about the dead than the livin'. With some folks it's all 'Oh, don't say nothin'; he's dead. Cover it all up; he's buried an' bury it too, an' set all the roses an' pinks a-growin' over it.' I tell you sometimes nettles will sprout, an' when they do, it don't m

s I do," retur

e it's funny you

ield n

ght my poor husband and yours failed up because we bought that image. There was one thing about it, your husband wa'n't never extravagant, th

dward Maxwell was pruden

ne side with the weight of a valise, pass hurriedly out of the yard. She wondered if it was Flora Maxwe

one; an' I made up my mind I'd rather have that if I had to go without some other things. An' my husband wanted it too; he was one of the Maxwells, you know, an' I think they all had a taste for such things if they wa'n't too tight to get 'em. As for me, I had to do without all my young days, an' I have to now except for the few things we got together al

ome," said

cemetery. Of course it would have to be dressed different if it was. An' it ain't anything but marble, whe

rs. Field, looking out

f it, and I knew if I did, I should have to have some wings made on it, and a cape or a shawl over the neck and arms; but out here it's different. I look out at it a good many times, an' I'm thankful it ain't got any more o

gilt clasps from the centre-table,

the other side, Lois," said she, "

l turned over the album leav

much like the first one. She was a real stepper. That's Flora Lowe's baby-the first one-an' that's Flora. I think it flatters her. That's my Flora. It ain't very go

t's pretty good, ain't i

elf, but it was all I had. It was taken some years before he died. I guess je

s. Field leant over and saw, and

ess I do,"

ty good one of

's throat. She did not answer. Mrs. Maxwell tho

'twas, very," said

e pictures so much alike in my life. I don't know how many folks have thought they were taken for the same person, an' I've always thought so too. If anything your sister's pic

ve," said

s wouldn't want to wear it as I know of. It's r

ess I'll go over to the window," s

rply. "Why, you're dreadful pa

ma'

r pale face had a hard, indifferent look. Mrs. Maxwe

readful," sh

s been doin' right along," said Mrs. Field, w

get her something to take? I've got some currant

't care for any," Loi

have a little? Yo

thank

you do belong to any temperance society. I

iged, but I don't car

. She's dead too. She married a man over at Milton, an' didn't live a year,"

, if you've got it to spare

k but a day. He ate milk an' cherries. I wonder where Flora is? She didn't have

note in her voice. She hurried out of the room and they heard her call, "Flo

," said she, "I can't stand it-I c

d all the sadness and toil of her whole life to the camera. She noted deliberately the old-fashioned sweep of the skirt quite across the little card, and the obsolete sle

l. Oh, mot

r, you can. I've laid out this road that's just an' right, an' I'm goin' on it; you can do jest as you're a-mind to. If

s dress was trimmed with fringe, after the f

en the flora of a whole age, she and her mother seemed so far apart, with that recession of soul which can cover more than earthly spaces. To t

e you?" Mrs. Maxwell c

airs; but she soon came into the parlo

o Lois; "it won't hurt you. I don't see where Flora is

without any demur. Her mother glance

where Flora is,"

out of the yard a w

e kind of stout

s,

ebbe she went down to the store to get some more th

picture of?" a

t have gone after that thread. She'll show you how to make that tidy, Lois, i

ographs in the album and a book of views in Palestine,

n'?" Mrs. Maxwell kept a

harply. It was like a premonitory click of machinery before motion, and Lois waited, numb with fear, for wha

on't see where she is," said she. "Here she's got to make cream-t

ame too early,"

n to eat jest as soon as they come, an' it seems as if that was all they come for. The old-fashioned way of goin' right after dinner, an' takin' your sewin's, a good deal better, acc

s 'tis," sai

y around a lace curtain. Two ladies in their best black d

itatedly. "I shall have to go right out in the kitchen an' make them biscui

ustle, showed them into her bedroom to lay aside their bonnets;

other a few minutes. I've got something to see to. Flora

ffled trimming on her dress gave her high shoulders a curiously girlish air. Finally the woman who had come with her asked pantingly how Mrs. Field liked Elliot, and if she thought it changed much. The color flashed over her little face, with its softly scalloping profil

eld. "I dunno as I can tell whether it's

e you was here," volunteered the elder wom

, had not heard her, and it was not until she shut the iron gate almost in her face that she saw her. Then the two came up the walk together. Lois watched them. The coming of all these people was to her like the closing in of a crowd of

k," said the ministe

old chain to her eyes, and began sewing on a white apron. "I meant to have come before," said she, "and brought my sewing and had a real sociable time, but one thing after another has delayed

st, with a large cambric apron over her dress, and a powder of f

suppose Mrs. Maxwell has not kept the glad tidings to herself." In spite

at the same time grew alert. Her black eyes,

bbe I ain't," said sh

ust be a brave woman to invite company to tea the afternoon her d

in its framework of curls; there was a curious noise in her

ittle about puttin' of it off, but she thought 'twas a bad sign. So it seemed best for her to get married witho

ompany, resting on each in turn as if she had with each a bout of single comb

ck train," remarked the minister

xwell calmly. "Now I guess I shall have to leave

eft the room, the ladie

idn't know about it?

she didn't at first. I began to feel very nervous. I knew Mr. Wheeler w

new dress?" as

ne thing that made me suspicious. She wore her old

hes made before old Mr. Maxwell died, an' she hadn't got any

ittle surprised when Mr. Wheeler came to me and said they were in the parlor to be married," sa

a appear?" as

ng more as if they were going to their own funerals than their weddings, they were so scared and quiet and sober. Now Flora-" The minister's wife stopped short, she heard Mr

h the crimped hair c

ter's wedding had to be discussed guardedly. Always after she w

e she knew?"

out of the window. Both of them knew that Mrs. Maxwell had not known of her

id Mrs. Lowe. "I w

lushed softly, but

arlor; the women were listening t

's dreadful close h

is," assented the

pen the door a little ways," said Mrs

sh nothing from the hum of

n her thin temples and her throat were swelling purple. When he had entered she had sprung at him. "Did you hear about it? I want

rancis wonderingly. "What

to the minister's and got

y, "I didn't; but I knew

ora tel

e, but I knew she woul

else? I'd like to know what you

ay three months ago, it wasn't very likely that old Mr. Maxwell's dying an

her life, and didn't want her to get married without a silk gown to her back to a man that a

Jane," said Francis, and his face reddened a little. "

never noticed them either. I ain't never wanted Flora to go into that family. I never felt as if she was lookin' high enough, an' I knew George couldn't get no kind of a livin' jest being clerk in Mason's store. But I felt different about it before Thomas died, for I thought she'd have money enough of her own, a

the best of it. I guess they'll get along all right. If George can't buy

han't know if I die for it. They shan't know that good-for-nothin' girl went off an' got married unbeknown to me. They've had enough to crow over because we didn't get Thomas Maxwell's money; they shan't have this nohow. You'll have to lend me some money, an' I'm goin' to Boston to-morrow an' I'

id Francis soothingly. "I'll mak

ain't goin' to have you give her clothes for a weddin'-present, as if we was poor as the Freemans. You didn't have any pride. There ain't anybody in this family ever had any prid

on't feel so bad. Maybe it's all for the be

the biscuit out of t

burn. Don't you wa

n't mind

lor," said she sharply, "an' don't you let 'em know you didn't know about it. You act kind of easy an' natural when

king hands with them rather boyishly and awkwardly. The

t I went to this afternoon," said she, with a blandness that

eplied Francis, w

to you as it was to us?" said she d

e it wasn't,"

s. Robbins glanc

owe motioned with

Robbins motioned ba

e. She talked on about the wedding, a

said she, with a sly graciousness, and the y

nsciousness that she shut out all else besides. Lois did not look at him, but once in a while she put up her hand and arranged the hai

m that window," said Mrs. F

s; Francis with an anxious interest. He partly arose as if to make room for her on the sofa,

husband all arrived together shortly afterwar

door, in a ceremonious hush. And the company arose hesitating

xwell to Lois, and she point

pon her green and white plate whil

id Francis's voice in her ear, when

asant," s

s was an innovation. They did not know how she had put them on to conceal the burn in her wrist which she had gotten in her blind f

black-gloved hands, and Mrs. Field stiffly buttered her biscuits.

thickly with sprigs of myrtle, and upon the top lay a little bouquet of white flowers and green leaves. Mrs. Lowe and Mrs. Robbins, who sat side by side, looked

e cake to her. Nobody could have dreamed as she cut it, every turn of her burned wrist giving her pain, of the frantic haste with which

some weddin'-

tle histrionic stage, had swayed them to her will. Mrs. Lowe and Mrs. Robbins both thought she knew. But the minister's wife still doubted; and later, when the other women were removed from the spell of her acting, their old suspicions returned. It was always a mooted question in Elliot whether or not Mrs. Jane Maxwell had known

prosecute other projects which she had in mind. She kept Mrs. Field and Lois behind the rest, and walked home with the mother, that Francis might have the