st looks like one of those long, narrow stones in the
graveyard, doesn't it? 'Sacred to the memory' ought to be written on
his forehead. I shall never forget the first sermon he preached after
he came. It was on the subject of everyone doing what they were best
fitted for--a very good subject, of course; but such illustrations as
he used! He said, 'If you had a cow and an apple tree, and if you tied
the apple tree in your stable and planted the cow in your orchard, with
her legs up, how much milk would you get from the apple tree, or how
many apples from the cow?' Did you ever hear the like in your born
days, dearie? I was so thankful there were no Methodists there that
day--they'd never have been done hooting over it. But what I dislike
most in him is his habit of agreeing with everybody, no matter what is
said. If you said to him, 'You're a scoundrel,' he'd say, with that
smooth smile of his, 'Yes, that's so.' A minister should have more
backbone. The long and the short of it is, I consider him a reverend
jackass. But, of course, this is just between you and me. When there
are Methodists in hearing I praise him to the skies. Some folks think
his wife dresses too gay, but _I_ say when she has to live with a face
like that she needs something to cheer her up. You'll never hear ME
condemning a woman for her dress. I'm only too thankful when her
husband isn't too mean and miserly to allow it. Not that I bother much
with dress myself. Women just dress to please the men, and I'd never
stoop to THAT. I have had a real placid, comfortable life, dearie, and
it's just because I never cared a cent what the men thought."

"Why do you hate the men so, Miss Bryant?"

"Lord, dearie, I don't hate them. They aren't worth it. I just sort
of despise them. I think I'll like YOUR husband if he keeps on as he
has begun. But apart from him about the only men in the world I've
much use for are the old doctor and Captain Jim."

"Captain Jim is certainly splendid," agreed Anne cordially.

"Captain Jim is a good man, but he's kind of vexing in one way. You
CAN'T make him mad. I've tried for twenty years and he just keeps on
being placid. It does sort of rile me. And I s'pose the woman he
should have married got a man who went into tantrums twice a day."

"Who was she?"

"Oh, I don't know, dearie. I never remember of Captain Jim making up
to anybody. He was edging on old as far as my memory goes. He's
seventy-s