Do you always have such a crowd here in the morning ?" "Always." "How long have they been here ?" "Nearly two hours." "What do they come for ?" "Habit." "Miss Lydia's asleep." "Habit too." "What shall you do when you are done with that odious stocking ?" "Sort crewels for Mrs.Upjohn." "And then ?" "Iron out my dress for the party." "Oh, at Mrs.Anthony's?
Who'll be there ?" "Everybody who has dropped in here this morning." "Who else ?" "Those who dropped in yesterday." "But what will you do to make it party-like ?" "Simper.

Aren't you coming too ?" "Not if you think it would do for me to say that I held party-going wrong for a clergyman.

Could I?
I might win over Mrs.Upjohn to the Church by so holy a statement." "You had better take to round-dancing instead, then, to keep her out of it." "Miss Phebe, is it possible you are severe on poor Mrs.Upjohn ?" "Very possible." "As your pastor I must admonish you.

Don't be.

Besides, it's safer to keep on her blind side." "She hasn't any." "Unhappy woman! What a blaze of moral light she must live in! But I ought to have been in my study an hour ago.