she got over what might possibly happen to her. She says it
was just shock after shock. There was a letter offerin' to pray with her
any time she'd telephone first, an' a letter tellin' her not to overpay
the hack, an' a letter sayin' as it's always darkest afore dawn, an' if
she'd got any money saved up to bring it along with her an' invest it
by the careful advice of him as had the letter printed at his own
expense. Why, she says she didn't know which way to turn or what to do
next she was that mixed up.

"An' then yesterday mornin' come the final bang as bu'sted Mrs. Macy!
She got a letter from a man as said he'd meet her in the station an'
tattoo her name right on her in the ladies' waitin'-room, so as her
friends could easy find her an' know her body at the morgue. Well, she
said that ended her. She says she never was one to take to bein' stuck
an' so she just up an' wrote to Mrs. Lupey as she would n't go for love
or money--"

"Why," cried Mrs. Lathrop, "then she isn't--"

"No," said Susan, "she isn't goin'. She ain't got the courage an' it's
cruel to force her. I told her to give me the ticket an' I'd go in her
place."

CHAPTER VIII

THE BIENNIAL

On the day that the Convention of Women's Clubs opened, Mrs. Lathrop,
having seen her friend depart, composed herself for a period of
unmitigated repose which might possibly last, she thought, for several
days. Susan had awakened her very early that morning to receive her back
door key and minute instructions regarding Elijah and the chickens.
Elijah had undertaken to look after the chickens, but Miss Clegg stated
frankly that she should feel better during her absence if her friend
kept a sharp eye on him during the process. "Elijah's got a good heart,"
said the delegate, "but that don't alter his bein' a man an' as a
consequence very poor to depend upon as to all things about the house.
I don't say as I lay it up against him for if he was like Deacon White,
an' had ideas of his own as to starchin' an' butterin' griddles, he'd
drive me mad in no time, but still I shall take it as a personal favor
of you, Mrs. Lathrop, if you'll ask him whenever you see him if he's
remembered all I told him, an' _don't_ let him forget the hen as is
thinkin' some of settin' in the wood shed, for if she does it, she'll
need food just as much as if she does n't do it."

Then Miss Clegg departed, with her valise, her bonnet in a box, and some
lunch in another box. She went