l smile
had burnt itself out into gray ashes; there was a white, appealing
look about her mouth. As they emerged from the dim parlor and stood at
the open front door, the bright June day, the golden-green trees,
almost blinded their eyes. Mrs. Timms was more smiling and cordial
than ever.

"There, I ought to have thought to offer you fans; I am afraid you was
warm after walking," she exclaimed, as if to leave no stone of
courtesy unturned. "I have so enjoyed meeting you again, I wish it was
so you could stop longer. Why, Mis' Flagg, we haven't said one word
about old times when we lived to Longport. I've had news from there,
too, since I saw you; my brother's daughter-in-law was here to pass
the Sabbath after I returned."

Mrs. Flagg did not turn back to ask any questions as she stepped
stiffly away down the brick walk. Miss Pickett followed her, raising
the fringed parasol; they both made ceremonious little bows as they
shut the high white gate behind them. "Good-by," said Mrs. Timms
finally, as she stood in the door with her set smile; and as they
departed she came out and began to fasten up a rose-bush that climbed
a narrow white ladder by the steps.

"Oh, my goodness alive!" exclaimed Mrs. Flagg, after they had gone
some distance in aggrieved silence, "if I haven't gone and forgotten
my bag! I ain't goin' back, whatever happens. I expect she'll trip
over it in that dark room and break her neck!"

"I brought it; I noticed you'd forgotten it," said Miss Pickett
timidly, as if she hated to deprive her companion of even that slight
consolation.

"There, I'll tell you what we'd better do," said Mrs. Flagg gallantly;
"we'll go right over an' see poor old Miss Nancy Fell; 't will please
her about to death. We can say we felt like goin' somewhere to-day,
an' 't was a good many years since either one of us had seen Baxter,
so we come just for the ride, an' to make a few calls. She'll like to
hear all about the conference; Miss Fell was always one that took a
real interest in religious matters."

Miss Pickett brightened, and they quickened their step. It was nearly
twelve o'clock, they had breakfasted early, and now felt as if they
had eaten nothing since they were grown up. An awful feeling of
tiredness and uncertainty settled down upon their once buoyant
spirits.

"I can forgive a person," said Mrs. Flagg, once, as if she were
speaking to herself; "I can forgive a person, but when I'm done with
'em, I'm done."