ught out one of the best rocking-chairs. She
was just in time, after drawing it up beside the opposite window, to
greet her friend at the door.

"Good-afternoon," said she. "I declare, I'm real glad to see you. I've
been alone all day. John went to the city this morning. I thought of
coming over to your house this afternoon, but I couldn't bring my
sewing very well. I am putting the ruffles on my new black dress
skirt."

"Well, I didn't have a thing on hand except my crochet work," responded
Mrs. Meserve, "and I thought I'd just run over a few minutes."

"I'm real glad you did," repeated Mrs. Emerson. "Take your things
right off. Here, I'll put them on my bed in the bedroom. Take the
rocking-chair."

Mrs. Meserve settled herself in the parlour rocking-chair, while Mrs.
Emerson carried her shawl and hat into the little adjoining bedroom.
When she returned Mrs. Meserve was rocking peacefully and was already
at work hooking blue wool in and out.

"That's real pretty," said Mrs. Emerson.

"Yes, I think it's pretty," replied Mrs. Meserve.

"I suppose it's for the church fair?"

"Yes. I don't suppose it'll bring enough to pay for the worsted, let
alone the work, but I suppose I've got to make something."

"How much did that one you made for the fair last year bring?"

"Twenty-five cents."

"It's wicked, ain't it?"

"I rather guess it is. It takes me a week every minute I can get to
make one. I wish those that bought such things for twenty-five cents
had to make them. Guess they'd sing another song. Well, I suppose I
oughtn't to complain as long as it is for the Lord, but sometimes it
does seem as if the Lord didn't get much out of it."

"Well, it's pretty work," said Mrs. Emerson, sitting down at the
opposite window and taking up her dress skirt.

"Yes, it is real pretty work. I just LOVE to crochet."

The two women rocked and sewed and crocheted in silence for two or
three minutes. They were both waiting. Mrs. Meserve waited for the
other's curiosity to develop in order that her news might have, as it
were, a befitting stage entrance. Mrs. Emerson waited for the news.
Finally she could wait no longer.

"Well, what's the news?" said she.

"Well, I don't know as there's anything very particular," hedged the
other woman, prolonging the situation.

"Yes, there is; you can't cheat me," replied Mrs. Emerson.

"Now, how do you know?"

"By the way you look."

Mrs. Meserve laughed consciou