most difficult of all would be, how two young women
could come into a neighborhood and make it better and happier for
their presence, could nurse some of us when we were ill, and show
themselves in a thousand ways helpful and kindly and companionable,
and all with the utmost simplicity,--to explain how they could do all
this and yet be impostors, would be harder still. The good Book says,
'By their fruits ye shall know them,' and that is how we know the
shopkeepers."

Wayland clapped noiselessly. "Good for auntie!" he whispered to
Charlotte.

"I really don't remember Marion's saying she was a cousin of Miss
Carpenter," said Alex. "Perhaps we jumped to the conclusion."

Mrs. Millard's lips were parted to reply when an exclamation from Miss
Virginia caused all eyes to turn toward the door. From the awed
silence it might have been a ghost, instead of Norah Pennington in a
white dress, who stood there.

She could not but be conscious of the excitement her appearance
aroused. Her color deepened as for a second she felt herself the
object of the silent gaze of this roomful of people. She did not lose
her self-possession, however, and in another moment Charlotte was at
her side, and Miss Virginia had recovered her power of speech.

"I really came in search of Alex," Norah explained, a most engaging
impostor surely, as she smiled upon the assembly.

"Do you know my sister, Miss Pennington?" Miss Virginia's
embarrassment was painfully evident.

"I believe I once met Mrs. Millard in the shop." There was a twinkle
of mischief in Norah's demureness.

Mrs. Millard bowed distantly.

"I am going to settle this here and now," Miss Sarah whispered to Mrs.
Russell as Norah crossed the room to the sofa where Alex sat. Leaning
forward she said in a tone quite audible to everybody, "Norah, excuse
me for asking a personal question, but did you say Miss
Carpenter--Marion--was related to the Philadelphia Carpenters?"

Norah was quick-witted. So this was what they had been talking about!
A glance at Mrs. Millard's haughty shoulders explained. "I think I did
say so," she replied frankly.

"But Miss Unadilla says she can't be," observed Wayland in an
undertone from behind her.

Norah made her decision promptly. "Miss Unadilla would not have said
so if she had understood. I am going to take the liberty of explaining
what has perhaps puzzled some of you. It was I who in the beginning
caused the mistake, and I think now the time has