ocently.

"That doesn't alter the case in the least," was the rejoinder. "Miss Van
Duzen can judge for herself. I don't think it proper. Besides, your
husband's familiar way with those ladies--one of whom is married and no
better than she ought to be, if appearances mean anything--does not
please me at all."

"O mamma, how absurd! I see no harm in it at all, and poor Lizzie, I am
sure, never means any harm."

"Well, well, my dear, I don't wish to say anything about other people,
and I only hope you will never have occasion to see any harm in your
husband's evident preference for the company of people with loose
notions about proper and becoming behavior."

On Saturday of that week a little incident occurred that raised me
perceptibly in Mrs. Pinkerton's estimation. The great, lumbering
stage-coach came up just at evening, more heavily laden than usual, and
top-heavy with trunks piled up on the roof. The driver dashed along with
his customary recklessness, the six horses breaking into a canter as
they turned to come up the rather steep acclivity to the house. The
coach was drawn about a foot from its usual rut, one of the wheels
struck a projecting stone, and over went the huge vehicle, passengers,
trunks, and all. The driver took a terrible leap and was stunned. The
horses stopped and looked calmly around on the havoc. There was great
consternation in and about the house. Here my natural self-possession
came into full play. I took command of the situation at once, directed
prompt and vigorous efforts to the extrication of the passengers, had
the injured ones taken into the house, applied proper restoratives, and
in a few minutes ascertained that only one was seriously hurt. She was a
young girl, who had insisted on riding outside, higher up even than the
driver. She had been thrown headlong, striking, fortunately, on the
grass, but terribly bruising one side of her face and dislocating her
left shoulder. In a trice I had made her as comfortable as possible;
dashed down to the village for the nearest doctor, having had the
forethought to order a team harnessed in anticipation of such a
necessity; and, having started the doctor up in a hurry, kept on to the
neighboring county town for a surgeon who had considerable local
reputation. I had him on the ground in a surprisingly short time, and
before bedtime the unfortunate girl was put in the way of recovery,
having received no internal injury.

My behavior in this aff