. In both houses a figure was leaning
from a window, thrown half out over the sill, in an attitude of eager
inquiry. At sight of Mrs. Mellen they dodged back, and only a slight
waving of curtains betrayed their presence. The good woman folded her
arms deliberately, and stood for five minutes, absorbed in the distant
landscape; then she turned, and went slowly back to the house.

"There!" she said, as she closed the door behind her. "That'll keep
'em occupied for one while!" and there was infinite content in her
tone.

Mr. Lindsay, coming in to breakfast, found his hostess beaming behind
the teakettle, placid and cheerful as usual. He still hated her, and
found difficulty in replying with alacrity to her remarks on the
beauty of the morning.

"I expect you and me'll have a right cozy time together!" she
announced. "You no need to put yourself out to talk to me, 'cause I
reelly don't seem to be hearing very good; and I won't talk to you,
save and except when you feel inclined. I know an elder does love to
have a quiet house about him. My sister married a minister, and my
father was a deacon himself, so I'm accustomed to the ways of the
ministry."

Mr. Lindsay stirred his tea, gloomily. The words recalled to his mind
those which had so disturbed him a day or two ago, just when all this
queer business of the deafness had come on. He remembered the spiteful
tones of the two neighbours, and recalled how the words had hissed in
his ears. He had thought of going away himself, lest he should
encourage false hopes in the breast of his gentle young friend--or her
mother; surely Rose Ellen,--as he said the name to himself, he felt
his ears growing pink, and knew that he had not said the name before,
even to himself; straightway said it again, to prove the absurdity of
something, he was not sure what, and felt his throat dry and hot. Now
Rose Ellen herself was gone, and for an indefinite time. She had not
gone willingly, of that he was sure; but it was equally evident that
her mother had no such thoughts as those two harridans had suggested.
He glanced up furtively, to meet a broad, beaming glance, and the
question whether he felt feverish any.

"You seem to flush up easy!" said Mrs. Mellen. "I should be careful,
if I was you, Mr. Lindsay, and not go messing round ponds and such at
this season of the year. It's just this time we commonly look for
sickness rising in the air."

Mr. Lindsay stirred his tea again, and sighed. Hi