tle talk I had with him this
morning, from his manner and--_je ne sais quoi_--that he will be a
welcome addition to a set of people in which every single one knows
just what every other one will say on any given subject and on any
occasion. You know how it is."

"Well," said the elder sister, smiling and half shutting her eyes with a
musing look, "I think myself that we all know each other a little too
well to make our affairs very exciting. Let us hope the new man will be
all you anticipate, and," she added with a little laugh, and a side
glance at her sister, "that there will be enough of him to go 'round."

It hardly needs to be said that the aristocracy of Homeville and all the
summer visitors and residents devoted their time to getting as much
pleasure and amusement out of their life as was to be afforded by the
opportunities at hand: Boating, tennis, riding, driving; an occasional
picnic, by invitation, at one or the other of two very pretty
waterfalls, far enough away to make the drive there and back a feature;
as much dancing in an informal way as could be managed by the younger
people; and a certain amount of flirtation, of course (but of a very
harmless sort), to supply zest to all the rest. But it is not intended
to give a minute account of the life, nor to describe in detail all the
pursuits and festivities which prevailed during the season. Enough to
say that our friend soon had opportunity to partake in them as much and
often as was compatible with his duties. His first call at Lakelawn
happened to be on an evening when the ladies were not at home, and it is
quite certain that upon this, the occasion of his first essay of the
sort, he experienced a strong feeling of relief to be able to leave
cards instead of meeting a number of strange people, as he had thought
would be likely.

One morning, some days later, Peleg Hopkins came in with a grin and
said, "The's some folks eout in front wants you to come eout an' see
'em."

"Who are they?" asked John, who for the moment was in the back room and
had not seen the carriage drive up.

"The two Verjoos gals," said Peleg with another distortion of his
freckled countenance. "One on 'em hailed me as I was comin' in and ast
me to ast you to come eout." John laughed a little as he wondered what
their feeling would be were they aware that they were denominated as the
"Verjoos gals" by people of Peleg's standing in the community.

"We were so sorry to miss your vi