shall know what to say, my son."

"Just frighten her, and make her think we are going to have Harry
arrested."

"I shall make her understand that the boy has done a very serious thing,
and has made himself amenable to the law."

"That's right, mother. Harry is too airy altogether. He seems to think
that I am no better than he is--a common working boy like him!"

Mrs. Ross sailed out of the room, and dressed herself with unusual care,
not out of respect for Mrs. Gilbert, but rather with the purpose of
impressing her with her grandeur.

CHAPTER III

MRS. ROSS MAKES TWO UNSATISFACTORY VISITS

It was very seldom that Mrs. Ross condescended to visit her poorer
neighbors, and it was, therefore, not without considerable surprise that
Mrs. Gilbert called to the door about eleven o'clock, just as she had
put on the potatoes to boil for dinner--recognized in the visitor on the
doorstep Mrs. Colonel Ross.

"Pray come in, Mrs. Ross. I am glad to see you," said the widow.

"I will come in for five minutes," said Mrs. Ross, carefully gathering
up her skirts, lest they should be soiled as she entered the humble
cottage. She need not have been alarmed, for there was not a cleaner
house in the village.

Mrs. Gilbert brought forward the most comfortable chair in her little
sitting-room, and the visitor seated herself.

"I am come on an unpleasant errand, Mrs. Gilbert," she commenced,
frigidly.

"Unpleasant!" repeated the widow, with quick apprehension. "Has anything
happened to my boy to Harry?"

Improbable as it seemed that in such an event Mrs. Ross should be the
messenger of ill tidings, it occurred to Mrs. Gilbert that she had come
to inform her of an accident to Harry.

The visitor's lips curled. What did it matter, she thought, whether
anything happened to him or not?

"Something has happened to my boy!" she said, with emphasis.

"I am very sorry," said the widow, with quick sympathy. "I hope he is
not hurt."

"He might have had his neck broken," said Mrs. Ross; "and by your son,"
she added, spitefully.

"They haven't been fighting, have they?" asked Mrs. Gilbert, nervously.

"No; but your son deliberately and maliciously, while driving Mr. Mead's
store wagon, drove into my son's light buggy, damaged it seriously, and
my poor Philip was thrown out. Your son drove off, leaving him
insensible by the roadside."

It will be perceived that Mrs. Ross had somewhat embellished t