table any time
in fifteen minutes after you got there.

Now, a certain lady with a noticeable green frock and a white "drawn-in"
cape bonnet had graced the Midnight Cry on its journey from Limington to
Saco on three occasions during the month of July. Report said that she
was a stranger who had appeared at the post-office in a wagon driven by
a small, freckled boy.

The first trip passed without comment; the second provoked some
discussion; on the occasion of the third, Mrs. Todd said nothing,
because there seemed nothing to say, but she felt so out-of-sorts that
she cut Jerry's hair close to his head, though he particularly fancied
the thin fringe of curls at the nape of his neck.

Pel Frost went over to Todd's one morning to borrow an axe, and seized
a favorable opportunity to ask casually, "Oh, Mis' Todd, did Jerry find
out the name o' that woman in a green dress and white bunnit that rid to
Saco with him last week?"

"Mr. Todd's got something better to do than get acquainted with his lady
passengers," snapped Mrs. Todd, "'specially as they always ride inside."

"I know they gen'ally do," said Pel, shouldering the axe (it was for
his mother's use), "but this one rides up in front part o' the way, so I
thought mebbe Jerry 'd find out something 'bout her. She's han'some as a
picture, but she must have a good strong back to make the trip down 'n'
up in one day."

Nothing could have been more effective or more effectual than this
blow dealt with consummate skill. Having thus driven the iron into Mrs.
Todd's soul, Pel entertained his mother with an account of the interview
while she chopped the kindling-wood. He had no special end in view when,
Iago-like, he dropped his first poisoned seed in Mrs. Todd's fertile
mind, or, at most, nothing worse than the hope that matters might reach
an unendurable point, and Jerry might strike for his altars and his
fires. Jerry was a man and a brother, and petticoat government must
be discouraged whenever and wherever possible, or the world would soon
cease to be a safe place to live in. Pel's idea grew upon him in the
night watches, and the next morning he searched his mother's garret till
he found a green dress and a white bonnet. Putting them in a basket, he
walked out on the road a little distance till he met the stage, when,
finding no passengers inside, he asked Jerry to let him jump in and
"ride a piece." Once within, he hastily donned the green wrapper and
tell-tale headg