"I never look at you now, and remember the Secretary of the 'Ladies'
Charitable Society,' without feeling thankful that you have riz like
that--what do you call it?--from its ashes, and are once more an orderly
and respectable member of society."

"Have you observed," asked the good-natured hostess, striving, out of
pity for the disconcerted Betsey, to turn the conversation into another
channel, "anything of these new people at the Burton place?"

"A leetle, but not much," said Mrs. Wynn. "I was so upset by their
sellin' out so sudden like, when I thought they was as much fixtures
here as the place itself, that I ain't had much time to think about
these new folks."

"As for me," continued Mrs. Swan, "I like them already. Being such a
near neighbor, I have a chance to see a good deal of them. Their names
are Garnet, and that pretty younger lady is the wife of their only son."

"It took some money, I should imagine," pursued Mrs. Wynn. "Of course
these folks must be rich."

"Yes, they paid twelve thousand, cash down, for their present home, and
the old lady told me they had other property besides."

"Do tell!" and "Gracious sakes!" ejaculated both her listeners at once.
"I must call right away." "It ain't neighborly to neglect strangers."

"I've another item for you," added the communicative Mrs. Swan. "They've
bought that cottage down near the Widow Hardyng's, for the young couple
to commence housekeeping for themselves."

"Why, what's that for?" was the next question; "don't they agree?"

"Oh, yes, perfectly; but the young people want a little home of their
own, 'a play house,' the elder Mrs. Garnet calls it. For my part, I
think it only natural. Mr. Swan and I did not want to stay with either
of the old folks after we were married, but came off and set up for
ourselves."

"That's the house that Mrs. Newcomer lived in, ain't it?" asked Betsey
Pryor.

"The very identical one," replied Mrs. Wynn. "I am glad that woman has
left, for it was a living disgrace to any respectable community,
harboring such a character."

"But nobody ever dreamed anything of her true history. If they, had they
wouldn't have associated with her," said Mrs. Swan. "She was a dreadful
creature, and I can't make out yet why she should take all that pains to
come here and persecute two unoffending women like Mrs. Hardyng and her
young friend."

"But don't you see," reiterated Mrs. Wynn, "it was at the instigation of
Mr. Westbourne, M