her sister continued: "It is quite evident to my mind
that they are pushing. Why else should they have come into a
neighborhood like this, instead of going where they belong, among
other shops? They evidently hope for some social recognition, and this
is why I lay stress upon not giving them our patronage in any respect.
I see plainly they will leave no stone unturned to ingratiate
themselves."

Did this account for Charlotte's rescue? Miss Virginia shivered at the
thought. It had seemed to her the extreme of neighborly kindness. One
thing was certain,--Miss Carpenter had not invented the occasion. Had
she seized it in the hope of advancing her own interests? Miss
Virginia felt this was silly.

How friendly and helpful Miss Pennington had seemed! Could a
commonplace, pushing young woman have so won Miss Virginia's heart?
She lay awake at night thinking about it, wondering how she could
suitably express her gratitude and at the same time preserve a distant
dignity. In the silence and darkness all sorts of dreadful
possibilities floated through her mind. Perhaps these harmless-looking
young women were adventuresses, come into the neighborhood with some
deep scheme, and the attractive shop as a blind. They might be
burglars. One read of astonishing things done by women in these days.

Miss Virginia felt impatient over this new problem, and her irritation
caused a display of unusual spirit when her sister began to give her
parting instructions.

"You'd better send the drawing-room curtains to Lucinda in January,"
said that lady, thoughtfully, balancing her pencil above the pad on
her knee. "I have made a list--"

"It is quite unnecessary, Caroline," interrupted Miss Virginia; "I
kept house for a good many years without you, and you can't expect to
run things here while you are in California."

"It seems to me, Virginia, you use very unbecoming expressions. I have
no desire to _run things_; I only supposed you would be glad of a few
suggestions."

"I am sure I don't wish to be rude, but I will be frank and tell you,
Caroline, that I mean to do as I please while you are away."

Mrs. Millard gazed at her in surprise. "Why, Virginia, one would
suppose you had been a captive in chains! Very well, I wash my hands
of it all,--only," relapsing into a tone of pathetic reproach, "you do
such singular things at times, you know."

She was manifestly shaken by this declaration of independence, but she
was committed to her o