t yet, though I have heard of her so frequently, that I feel almost
as if I knew her."

"Well, I think you will like each other very much," said Mrs. Richter,
"and we will introduce you to her."

On reaching the gate, therefore, the ladies presented Mrs. Potter in due
form.

"I have been intending to call on you, Mrs. Potter," said Mrs.
Drysdale, "but my youngest child has not been well, and I have not gone
anywhere for several weeks. In fact, I am quite a home body at all
times, and I always expect my friends to waive ceremony, and visit me a
great deal more than I visit them. I hope you will not wait for me, Mrs.
Potter, for my domestic affairs keep me very busy just now; I shall be
glad to see you any time that you feel like dropping in."

"I shall be very glad to dispense with formalities," answered Mrs.
Potter, "and you can depend upon seeing me soon."

After some further conversation, the three ladies resumed their homeward
walk, leaving Mrs. Drysdale still waiting for her husband. He was soon
seen by the ladies, rapidly walking up the street toward his home. He
was on the opposite side, so that he merely bowed to them, and hastened
on.

"There seems to have been quite a change in Mr. Drysdale during the last
year," said Mrs. Richter. "My husband was speaking of it the other day.
He said that Drysdale was becoming really unsociable. I hope he is not
growing dissipated, for the sake of his wife, who is a lovely woman."

"Yes; she seems to be a most devoted wife and mother," said Mrs. Potter.
"Possibly, the change in Mr. Drysdale, is due to business troubles."

"Oh, no; that is impossible," said Mrs. Townsend; "he is very wealthy
indeed, and as he is not engaged in any regular business, he cannot be
financially embarrassed. No, I attribute his recent peculiarities, to
religious doubts; he has not been to church since last fall."

"Is it as long as that?" asked Mrs. Richter.

"Yes; I recollect it, because he did not go to the funeral of poor
George Gordon, and he has not attended service since then."

"Well, if he really is in religious trouble, the minister ought to visit
him and give him advice," said Mrs. Richter.

As they walked toward the hotel, they turned the conversation into a
different channel without reaching any conclusion as to the cause of Mr.
Drysdale's eccentricities.

A few days thereafter Mrs. Potter called upon Mrs. Drysdale and passed
the afternoon very pleasantly. When Mr. Drysdale