first at her unexpected visitor, and then at the
trunk. The stage-driver, who watched this encounter with evident
delight, turned away with reluctance. "I can't wait all day to see how
they settle it," he said, and mounted briskly to the box, and the
stage rolled on.

"He might have waited just a minute to see," said Miss Pickett
indignantly, but Mrs. Flagg's head and shoulders were already far out
of the stage window--the house was on her side. "She ain't got in
yet," she told Miss Pickett triumphantly. "I could see 'em quite a
spell. With that trunk, too! I do declare, how inconsiderate some
folks is!"

"'T was pushin' an acquaintance most too far, wa'n't it?" agreed Miss
Pickett. "There, 't will be somethin' laughable to tell Mis' Timms. I
never see anything more divertin'. I shall kind of pity that woman if
we have to stop an' git her as we go back this afternoon."

"Oh, don't let's forgit to watch for her," exclaimed Mrs. Flagg,
beginning to brush off the dust of travel. "There, I feel an excellent
appetite, don't you? And we ain't got more 'n three or four miles to
go, if we have that. I wonder what Mis' Timms is likely to give us for
dinner; she spoke of makin' a good many chicken-pies, an' I happened
to remark how partial I was to 'em. She felt above most of the things
we had provided for us over to the conference. I know she was always
counted the best o' cooks when I knew her so well to Longport. Now,
don't you forget, if there's a suitable opportunity, to inquire about
the drop-cakes;" and Miss Pickett, a little less doubtful than before,
renewed her promise.

IV.

"My gracious, won't Mis' Timms be pleased to see us! It 's just
exactly the day to have company. And ain't Baxter a sweet pretty
place?" said Mrs. Flagg, as they walked up the main street. "Cynthy
Pickett, now ain't you proper glad you come? I felt sort o' calm about
it part o' the time yesterday, but I ain't felt so like a girl for a
good while. I do believe I'm goin' to have a splendid time."

Miss Pickett glowed with equal pleasure as she paced along. She was
less expansive and enthusiastic than her companion, but now that they
were fairly in Baxter, she lent herself generously to the occasion.
The social distinction of going away to spend a day in company with
Mrs. Flagg was by no means small. She arranged the folds of her shawl
more carefully over her arm so as to show the pretty palm-leaf border,
and then looked up with great appro