igorously stated their belief that a young married
pastor with a growing family had his advantages. The worst thing
seemed to be that the Rev. Mr. Farley was beginning his pastorate
under a cloud.

While all this tempest blew, and all eyes were turned her way, friends
and foes alike behaved as if not only themselves but the world were
concerned with Mrs. Maria Lunn's behavior, and as if the fate of
empires hung upon her choice of a consort. She was maligned by Captain
Crowe's two sisters for having extended encouragement to their
brother, while the near relatives of Captain Shaw told tales of her
open efforts to secure his kind attention; but in spite of all these
things, and the antagonism that was in the very air, Mrs. Lunn went
serenely on her way. She even, after a few days' seclusion, arrayed
herself in her best, and set forth to make some calls with a pleasant,
unmindful manner which puzzled her neighbors a good deal. She had, or
professed to have, some excuse for visiting each house: of one friend
she asked instructions about her duties as newly elected officer of
the sewing society, the first meeting of which had been held in her
absence; and another neighbor was kindly requested to give the latest
news from an invalid son at a distance. Mrs. Lunn did not make such a
breach of good manners as to go out making calls with no reason so
soon after her cousin's death. She appeared rather in her most
friendly and neighborly character; and furthermore gave much
interesting information in regard to the new minister, telling many
pleasant things about him and his relations to, and degree of success
in, his late charge. There may or may not have been an air of
proprietorship in her manner; she was frank and free of speech, at any
rate; and so the flame of interest was fanned ever to a brighter
blaze.

The reader can hardly be expected to sympathize with the great
excitement in Longport society when it was known that the new minister
had engaged board with Mrs. Lunn for an indefinite time. There was
something very puzzling in this new development. If there was an
understanding between them, then the minister and Mrs. Lunn were
certainly somewhat indiscreet. Nobody could discredit the belief that
they had a warm interest in each other; yet those persons who felt
themselves most nearly concerned in the lady's behavior began to
indulge themselves in seeing a ray of hope.

V.

Captain Asa Shaw had been absent for some