ld be acceptable to the ladies of the village, I
have reason to think," persisted Mr. Homer. "My venerable relative, Mrs.
Tree, expressed herself strongly--" (Mr. Homer blinked two or three
times, as if recalling something of an agitating nature)--"I may say
_very_ strongly, in favor of it; in fact, the suggestion came in the
first place from her, though I had also had it in mind."

There was a change in the atmosphere; a certain rigidity of neck and set
of chin gradually softened and disappeared. The elders shuffled their
feet, and glanced one at another.

"It mightn't do no harm to give him a try," said Abram Cutter. "Homer's
ben clerk himself fifteen year, and he knows what's wanted."

"That's so," said the elders.

"After all," said Salem Rock, "it's Homer has the appointin'; all we
can do is advise. If you're set on givin' Will Jaquith a chance, Homer,
and if Mis' Tree answers for him--why, I dono as we'd ought to oppose
it. Only, you keep your eye on him! Meetin's adjourned."

The elders strolled away by ones and twos, each with his word of
congratulation or advice to the new postmaster. Seth Weaver alone
lingered, leaning on the window-ledge. His eyes--shrewd blue eyes, with
a twinkle in them--roamed over the rather squalid little room, with its
two yellow chairs, its painted pine table and rusty stove.

"Seems curus without Isr'el," he said, meditatively. "Seems kind o'
peaceful and empty, like the hole in your jaw where you've had a tooth
hauled; or like stoppin' off takin' physic."

"Israel was an excellent postmaster," said Mr. Homer, gently. "I thought
your resolutions were severe, Seth, though I am aware that they were
offered partly in jest."

"You never lived next door to him!" said Seth.

CHAPTER VII.

IN MISS PENNY'S SHOP

One of the pleasantest places in Elmerton was Miss Penny Pardon's shop.
Miss Penny (short for Penelope) and Miss Prudence were sisters; and as
there was not enough dressmaking in the village to keep them both busy
at all seasons, and as Miss Penny was lame and could not "go" much, as
we say in the village, she kept this little shop, through which one
passed to reach the back parlor where Miss Prudence cut and fitted and
stitched. It was a queer little shop. There were a few toys, chiefly
dolls, beautifully dressed by Miss Prudence, with marbles and tops in
their season for the boys; there was a little fancy work, made by
various invalid neighbors, which Miss Penny