ng the lifetime of its former owner.
With his death there had come a change to the inhabitants of Terrace
Hill. In short it was whispered rather loudly now that the ladies of
Terrace Hill were restricted in their means, that it was harder to
collect a bill from them than it used to be, that there was less display
of dress and style, fewer fires, and lights, and servants, and
withdrawal from society, and an apparent desire to be left to
themselves.

This was what the village people whispered, and none knew the truth of
the whisperings better than the ladies in question. They knew they were
growing poorer with each succeeding year, but it was not the less
mortifying to be familiarly accosted by Mrs. Deacon Briggs, or invited
to a sociable by Mrs. Roe.

How Miss Asenath and Miss Eudora writhed under the infliction, and how
hard they tried to appear composed and ladylike just as they would deem
it incumbent upon them to appear, had they been on their way to the
gallows. How glad, too, they were when their aristocratic doors closed
upon the little, talkative Mrs. Roe, and what a good time they had
wondering how Mrs. Johnson, who really was as refined and cultivated as
themselves, could associate with such folks to the extent she did. She
was always present at the Snowdon sewing circles, they heard, and
frequently at its tea-drinkings, while never was there a sickbed but she
was sure to find it, particularly if the sick one were poor and
destitute. This was very commendable and praiseworthy, they admitted,
but they did not see how she could endure it. Once Miss Asenath had
ventured to ask her, and she had answered that all her best, most useful
lessons, were learned in just such places--that she was better for these
visits, and found her purest enjoyments in them. To Miss Asenath and
Miss Eudora, this was inexplicable, but Anna, disciplined by years of
ill health, had a slight perception of higher, purer motives than any
which actuated the family at Terrace Hill. On the occasion of little
Mrs. Roe's call it was Anna who apologized for her presumption, saying
that Mrs. Roe really had the kindest of hearts; besides, it was quite
natural for the villagers not to stand quite so much in awe of them now
that their fortune was declining, and as they could not make
circumstances conform to them, they must conform to circumstances.
Neither Asenath nor Eudora, nor the lady mother liked this kind of
conformation, but Anna was generall