ly conniving at
her removal from the presidency which she had held for so many years.
She was always reading minutes at assemblages which Melicent knew
nothing about; or introducing distinguished guests to Guild room
meetings. Altogether Melicent saw very little of Mrs. Manning.

"Johannah, don't you hear the bell?"

"Yes, Miss," said Johannah, coming into the room and depositing a gown
on which she had been working, on the back of a chair. "It's that
postman," she said, as she fastened her needle to the bosom of her
dress. "And such a one as he is, thinking that people must fly when he
so much as touches the bell, and going off a writing of 'no answer to
bell,' and me with my hand on the very door-knob."

"I notice that always happens when I'm out, Johannah; he's ringing
again."

It was Therese's letter, and as Melicent turned it about and looked
critically at the neatly written address, it was not without a hope
that the reading of it might furnish her a moment's diversion. She did
not faint. The letter did not "fall from her nerveless clasp." She
rather held it very steadily. But she grew a shade paler and looked
long into the fire. When she had read it three times she folded it
slowly and carefully and locked it away in her desk.

"Johannah."

"Yes, Miss."

"Put that gown away; I shan't need it."

"Yes, Miss; and all the beautiful passmantry that you bought?"

"It makes no difference, I shan't use it. What's become of that black
camel's-hair that Mrs. Gauche spoiled so last winter?"

"It's laid away, Miss, the same in the cedar chest as the day it came
home from her hands and no more fit, that I'd be a shame meself and no
claims to a dress-maker. And there's many a lady that she never would
have seen a cent, let alone making herself pay for the spiling of it."

"Well, well, Johannah, never mind. Get it out, we'll see what can be
done with it. I've had some painful news, and I shall wear mourning
for a long, long time."

"Oh, Miss, it's not Mr. David! nor yet one of those sweet relations in
Utica? leastways not I hope that beautiful Miss Gertrude, with such
hair as I never see for the goldness of it and not dyed, except me
cousin that's a nun, that her mother actually cried when it was cut
off?"

"No, Johannah; only a very dear friend."

There were a few social engagements to be cancelled; and regrets to be
sent out, which she attended to immediately. Then she turned again to
look long into the fir