ssued forth and joined company, walking faster.
They too struck out across the common. What might this mean?

To Mrs. Berry, who knew nothing of the unreturned rockery, and nothing
of the mysterious doings of Steve Brown, this was a question which
called for an answer.

Evidently it was no preconcerted move. Mrs. Berry, being a woman,
could see, from various indications of dress and manner, that each of
them was going simply because she had seen the other do so, and this
was reason enough; but still, behind it all, there must have been some
original reason; and what was it?

Mrs. Berry proceeded to the kitchen and faced her work. She addressed
her remarks particularly to the dough.

"Well, I guess I can just let my work go for _once_ in my life," she
said. She spread out her hands and pushed down the dough till it was
about half its former size. "There, now," she said. "Rise again."

Donning a clean apron and her best hat, and giving Susan some parting
instructions, she opened the door and set forth for the common
destination. Mrs. Berry had the courage of her curiosity. She was not
meddlesome, but only interested; and as there was nothing whatever
between her and what she saw in the world,--not even an education,--she
dealt with life in her own resourceful way. Mrs. Berry was a "railroad
widow"; she supported herself and Susan by ceaseless industry helped
out by a small income received from "the Company" when her husband was
killed in the faithful discharge of his duty.

By the time she had put in her appearance at Jonas's ever-open door,
the ladies had come to a period in their conference with Jonas and now
they were engaged in expressing various sorts of surprise. They were
quite astonished at something--whatever the nature of it might be.

"Yes, she had on that kind of a hat," Jonas was saying. "But she ain't
any woman from around here. She is a school-teacher and educated. I
know her."

There was another chorus of "I declare!" which came to a stop as Mrs.
Berry rapped on the door-jamb; then all reference to their business was
dropped as they welcomed her in and made the usual polite inquiries
regarding herself and little Susan. Mrs. Berry seated herself in the
proffered chair without any reference to what the nature of her own
errand might have been. When it was seen that she had settled down to
stay, Mrs. Harmon took in hand to make everything plain and open. They
had just received news th