erself instantly.

"Don't be too hard on Mrs. Little, Hetty," he said, "you know Jim was
her favorite of all the children; and she can't never see it anyways but
that Sally's been his ruin. Now I don't see it that way; and I've always
tried to be good to Sally, in all ways that I could be, things being as
they were at home. You know a man ain't always free to do's he likes,
Hetty. He can't go against his wife, leastways not when she's feeble
like Mrs. Little."

"No, no, Deacon Little," Hetty hastened to say, "I never meant to
reproach you. Sally always says you've been good to her. I'm very sorry
that I spoke so about Mrs. Little; not that I can take a word of it
back, though," added Hetty, her anger still rising hotly at mention of
the name; "but I'll never say a word to you about it again. It isn't
fair."

Deacon Little repeated this conversation to his wife, and told Hetty
that he had done so. It was therefore with great surprise that Hetty
found herself on this morning face to face in her own home with Mrs.
Little.

"What in the world can have brought her here?" thought Hetty, as she
walked slowly towards the sitting-room, "no good I'll be bound;" and it
was with a look almost of defiance that she stood before her, waiting
for her to speak. Mrs. Little with all her immovability of prejudice was
a timid woman, and moreover was especially afraid of Hetty Gunn. Hetty's
independent, downright, outspoken ways were alarming to her nervous,
conservative, narrow-minded soul.

"I expect you're surprised to see me here, Hetty," she began.

"Very much," interrupted Hetty curtly, in a hard tone. A long silence
ensued, which Hetty made no movement to break, but stood with her arms
folded, looking Mrs. Little in the eye.

"I came--to--tell--to let you know--Mr. Little he wanted me to come and
tell you--he didn't like to--" she stammered.

Hetty's quick instinct took alarm.

"If it's any thing you've got to say against that poor girl out there,"
pointing to the garden, where Sally was busy tying up chrysanthemums
"you may as well save yourself the trouble. I shan't hear it," and
Hetty looked her unwelcome visitor still more defiantly in the face.
Mrs. Little colored, and stung at last into a command of her organs of
speech, said, not without dignity:

"You needn't suppose that I wish to do any thing to injure the woman my
son has married. It was Jim who asked his father to tell you--"

"For goodness' sake, do say wha