cessary to make it if she doesn't want to--should trouble Mrs.
Ferguson any more than the thought of Mr. Cliff's removal troubles me.
I'm perfectly willing to do what I can for the new cemetery, and nobody
need think I'm such a nervous hysterical person that I'm in danger of
popping over if the subject is mentioned to me. So when you all are
ready to have another meeting, I hope you will let me know!"

When Mrs. Ferguson felt herself well enough to sit up and take a glass
of water, with something stimulating in it, she was informed of the
nature of the statements which had been finally made to Mrs. Cliff.

"You know, of course," added Miss Cushing, still pale from unappeased
rage, "that that Susan Inchman began as she did, just to spite us!"

"It's just like her!" said Mrs. Archibald. "But I never could have
believed that such a dried codfish of a woman could have so much
intellect!"

CHAPTER XI

THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW DINING-ROOM

The little meeting at the house of Miss Cushing resulted in something
very different from the anticipations of those ladies who had consulted
together for the purpose of constituting themselves the heirs of Mrs.
Cliff.

That good lady being then very much in want of something to do was so
pleased with the idea of a new cemetery that she entered into the scheme
with great earnestness. She was particularly pleased with this
opportunity of making good use of her money, because, having been asked
by others to join them in this work, she was not obliged to pose as a
self-appointed public benefactor.

Mrs. Cliff worked so well in behalf of the new cemetery and subscribed
so much money towards it, through Mr. Perley, that it was not many
months before it became the successor to the little crowded graveyard
near the centre of the town; and the remains of Mr. Cliff were removed
to a handsome lot and overshadowed by a suitable monument.

Mrs. Ferguson, however, in speaking with Mrs. Cliff upon the subject,
was happy to have an opportunity of assuring her that she thought it
much better to devote her slender means to the education of her
daughters than to the removal of her late husband to a more eligible
resting-place.

"I'm sure he's done very well as he is for all these years," she said,
"and if he could have a voice in the matter, I'm quite sure that he
would prefer his daughters' education to his own removal."

Mrs. Cliff did not wish to make any offer which might hurt Mrs.
Fe