and I discussed
ever so many plans for doing good here. And we wanted to be friendly
with every one. But how have you treated us! No one comes to see us. We
are avoided as if we had the small-pox. The majority of people scarcely
speak to us on the street. I am so lonely and--"

She stopped. I had never seen her so agitated. As for me, astonishment
is much too mild a term to use in describing my feelings. That these
people, these millionaires and aristocrats should feel that they had
been avoided and slighted, that we Denboroites were the snobs, that THEY
should be lonely because no one, or almost no one, came to call upon
them--this was too much for my bewildered brain to grasp all at once.

The young lady went on.

"And you!" she exclaimed. "You are as bad as the rest. Father has called
upon you several times. I have called on your mother. Father and I have
tried to be friendly and neighborly. Not that we are lacking in friends.
We," haughtily, "are not obliged to BEG for friendship. But we felt it
our duty to--"

I interrupted. There is a limit to forbearance and I considered that
limit reached.

"Miss Colton," I declared, "you are talking nonsense. Considering the
manner in which your father treated me when we first met, I--"

"How did you treat him? How did you treat Mr. Carver and me when you
first met us in the auto? You insulted us. It was plain enough then that
you hated us."

"I--why, Miss Colton, I did not know who you were."

"Indeed! Would it have made any difference if you had known? I doubt it.
No, you are like the rest of the people here. Because we have come from
the city you have chosen to be as envious and petty and disagreeable
as you can. Even Nellie Dean, whom I know better than any one here, has
never returned my call. There is a concerted plan to make us feel we are
neither welcome nor wanted. Very well," disdainfully, "we know it. I,
for one, shall not force my presence upon any one of you again. And it
is probable that I shall manage to exist even without the delights of
Denboro society. Good-by, Mr. Paine."

"But, Miss Colton--"

"Good-by."

"Miss Colton, listen to me. You are wrong, all wrong, I tell you. There
is no plan or plot to make you feel uncomfortable. We are plain village
people here, and you are wealthy and have been used to associating with
those of your class. Every one in Denboro knew that when you came, and
they have been shy of intruding where they might not be we