er--supreme importance--came--er--to my knowledge last evening
that--that--"

"That what?"

"--That--that--mm--mm--" there followed the peculiar noise attendant
upon a general clearing up of much lathered cuticle, "--I forgot them."

"What matters were they? You didn't say anything about 'supreme
importance' last night, Mr. Caukins."

"I'll tell you later, Elvira; just at present I--"

"Was it anything about the quarries?"

"Mm--"

"_What_ was it?"

"I heard young Googe was expected next week."

"Well, I declare! I could have told you that much myself if you'd been
at home in any decent season. It seems pretty poor planning to have to
run down three miles to The Greenbush every Saturday evening to find out
what you could know by just stepping across the bridge to Aurora's. She
told me yesterday. Was that all?"

"N--no--"

"For mercy's sake, Mr. Caukins, don't keep me waiting here any longer!
It's almost church time."

"I wasn't aware that I was detaining you, Elvira." The Colonel's protest
was mild but dignified. There were sounds above of renewed activity.

"Dulcie," said Mrs. Caukins, turning to a little girl who was standing
beside her, listening with erected ears to her mother's questions and
father's answers, "go up stairs into mother's room and see if Doosie's
getting ready, there's a good girl."

"Doosie is with me, Elvira; I would let well enough alone for the
present, if I were you," said the Colonel admonishingly. His wife wisely
took the hint. "Come up, Dulcie," he called, "father's ready." Dulcie
hopped up stairs.

"You haven't said what matters of importance kept you last night." Mrs.
Caukins returned to her muttons with redoubled energy.

"Champney came home unexpectedly last evening, and the syndicate has
offered him a position, a big one, in New York--treasurer of the
Flamsted Quarries Company; and our Romanzo's got a chance too--"

"You don't say! What is it?" Mrs. Caukins started up stairs whence came
sounds of an obstreperous bootjack.

"Paymaster, here in town; I'll explain in more propitious circumstances.
Has 'Lias harnessed yet, Elvira?"

Without deigning to answer, Mrs. Caukins freed her mind.

"Well, Mr. Caukins, I must say you grow more and more like that old ram
of 'Lias's that has learned to butt backwards just for the sake of going
contrary to nature. I believe you'd rather tell a piece of news
backwards than forwards any day! Why didn't you begin by telling me
abo