ors herself. She was one of those women whose husbands are
super-numeraries at home, while their wives are mouth-pieces for them
abroad.

Her go-_aheaditiveness_ was a new revelation to the plodding
villagers; it not only made her household cares a mere song, but
enabled her to preside over her husband's business affairs with a
dexterity of calculation that soon rendered his own position but a
sinecure. In short, Mrs. Tiptop was a trump-card at home, and every
where, always winning the game of domestic differences, and turning
the chances of all neighborly or church variances, which began to
spring up simultaneously with her introduction there.

In person Mrs. Tiptop was tall, of slender frame, and thin, almost to
emaciation, giving no indications of physical or mental strength,
save that it was "all in the _eye_"--black, penetrating, "wise as the
serpent," and possessing the optical versatility of seeing all sides
in a twinkling; yet when its latent forces were single-eyed to a
purpose, that end was achieved as unquestionably as when acknowledged
by many witnesses.

No sooner did that eye peer through the bridal veil at Mr. Worthiman,
on Mrs. Tiptop's introduction to the village church, than her purpose
was formed and executed as truly as when carried out through all the
intricate passages leading to its accomplishment.

She had determined to be _felt_ in the village, and Mr. Worthiman's
godly power over his unsophisticated people was then and there
destined to totter from its long settled foundations. Before the next
communion season Mrs. Tiptop had sent in her certificate, and was
placed on the list of church-members. Here was a footing on which she
could stand to use the instruments that would be needed in the
premeditated revolution. The initiation of a communicant into a
country church is generally succeeded by a call from its officers on
the new member. Nothing could be more gracious than Mrs. Tiptop's
reception of this church police, who paid her the complimentary visit
during the week subsequent to her admission; but in this instance, on
Deacon Heedful alone fell the _charm_ of her serpentine eye. Quick as
thought in discernment, she penetrated at once through the deacon's
tractable physiognomy to his more flexible mind; and while the good
man was inwardly congratulating his church on the acquisition of so
worthy a member, she was fastening around him the toils in which he
was hereafter to do her bidding,