rguson's very sensitive feelings, but she said that she had no doubt
that arrangements could be made by which Mr. Ferguson's transfer could
be effected without interfering with any plans which might have been
made for the benefit of his daughters; but, although this remark did not
satisfy Mrs. Ferguson, she was glad of even this slight opportunity of
bringing the subject of her daughters' education before the
consideration of her friend.

As to the other would-be heirs, they did not immediately turn upon Miss
Inchman and rend her in revenge for the way in which she had tricked and
frightened them, for there was no knowing what such a woman would do if
she were exasperated, and not for the world would they have Mrs. Cliff
find out the real subject of their discussion on that unlucky morning
when she made herself decidedly one too many in Miss Cushing's parlor.

Consequently, all attempts at concerted action were dropped, and each
for herself determined that Mrs. Cliff should know that she was a true
friend, and to trust to the good lady's well-known gratitude and
friendly feeling when the time should come for her to apportion her
worldly goods among the dear ones she would leave behind her.

There were certain articles in Mrs. Cliff's house for which each of her
friends had a decided admiration, and remarks were often made which it
was believed would render it impossible for Mrs. Cliff to make a mistake
when she should be planning her will, and asking herself to whom she
should give this, and to whom that?

It was about a week after the events in Miss Cushing's parlor, that
something occurred which sent a thrill through the souls of a good many
people in Plainton, affecting them more or less according to their
degree of sensibility.

Willy Croup, who had been driven about the town attending to various
matters of business and pleasure, was informed by Andrew Marks, as she
alighted about four o'clock in the afternoon at the house of an
acquaintance, that he hoped she would not stop very long because he had
some business of his own to attend to that afternoon, and he wanted to
get the horse cared for and the cow milked as early as possible, so that
he might lock up the barn and go away. To this Willy answered that he
need not wait for her, for she could easily walk home when she had
finished her visit.

But when she left the house, after a protracted call, she did not walk
very far, for it so happened that Mr. Burke,