vy packages and boxes from the nearest railway
station.

Then it was that the responsible gossips of Bowerton were worked nearly
to death, but each one was sustained by a fine professional pride which
enabled them to pass creditably through the most exciting period.

For years they had skillfully pried into each other's private affairs,
but then they had some starting-place, some clue; now, alas! there was
not in all Bowerton a single person who had emigrated from Boston, where
the Wyetts had lived. Worse still, there was not a single Bowertonian
who had a Boston correspondent.

To be sure, one of the Bowerton pastors had occasional letters from a
missionary board, whose headquarters were at the Hub, but not even the
most touching appeals from members of his flock could induce him to
write the board concerning the newcomers.

But Bowerton was not to be balked in its striving after accurate
intelligence.

From Squire Brown, who leased Mrs. Wyett a cottage, it learned that Mrs.
Wyett had made payment by check on an excellent Boston bank. The poor
but respectable female who washed the floors of the cottage informed the
public that the whole first floor was to be carpeted with Brussels.

The postmaster's clerk ascertained and stated that Mrs. Wyett received
_two_ religious papers per week, whereas no else in Bowerton took more
than one.

The grocer said that Mrs. Wyett was, by jingo, the sort of person _he_
liked to trade with--wouldn't have anything that wasn't the very best.

The man who helped to do the unpacking was willing to take oath that
among the books were a full set of Barnes, Notes, and two sets of
commentaries, while Mrs. Battle, who lived in the house next to the
cottage, and who was suddenly, on hearing the crashing of crockery next
door, moved to neighborly kindness to the extent of carrying in a nice
hot pie to the newcomers, declared that, as she hoped to be saved, there
wasn't a bit of crockery in that house which wasn't pure china.

Bowerton asked no more. Brussels carpets, religious tendencies, a bank
account, the ability to live on the best that the market afforded, and
to eat it from china, and china only--why, either one of these
qualifications was a voucher of respectability, and any two of them
constituted a patent of aristocracy of the Bowerton standard.

Bowerton opened its doors, and heartily welcomed Mrs. and Miss Wyett.

It is grievous to relate, but the coming of the estimable peo