Shott was passing on the other side of the street, and she was
walking rapidly, but she could see more out of the corner of her eye
than most people could see when they were looking straight before them
at the same things.

Suddenly Mrs. Cliff determined that she must do something. She felt
blue,--she wanted to talk to somebody. And, feeling thus, she naturally
went into the house, put on her bonnet and her wrap, and walked down to
see Miss Cushing. There was not anything in particular that she wanted
to see her about, but there was work going on and she might talk about
it; or, it might happen that she would be inclined to give some orders.
She was always glad to do anything she could to help that hard-working
and kind-hearted neighbor!

When Mrs. Cliff entered the parlor of Miss Cushing, five women each gave
a sudden start. The dressmaker was so thrown off her balance that she
dropped her sewing on the floor, and rising, went forward to shake her
visitor by the hand, a thing she was not in the habit of doing to
anybody, because, as is well known to all the world, a person who is
sewing for a livelihood cannot get up to shake hands with the friends
and acquaintances who may happen in upon her. At this the other ladies
rose and shook hands, and it might have been supposed that the new-comer
had just returned from a long absence. Then Miss Cushing gave Mrs. Cliff
a chair, and they all sat down again.

Mrs. Cliff looked about her with a smile. The sight of these old friends
cheered her. All her blues were beginning to fade, as that color always
fades in any kind of sunshine.

"I'm glad to see so many of you together," she said. "It almost seems as
if you were having some sort of meeting. What is it about,--can't I join
in?"

At this there was a momentary silence which threatened to become very
embarrassing if it continued a few seconds more, and Miss Cushing was on
the point of telling the greatest lie of her career, trusting that the
other heirs would stand by her and support her in whatever statements
she made, feeling as they must the absolute necessity of saying
something instantly. But Miss Inchman spoke before any one else had a
chance to do so.

"You're right, Mrs. Cliff," said she, "we are considering something! We
didn't come here on purpose to talk about it, but we happened in
together, and so we thought we would talk it over. And we all came to
the conclusion that it was something which ought to be menti