"That's a nice young fellow," Dunn observed, when Archie was out of hearing.
"It seems to me odd his mother shouldn't have been in to see us yet," Susan said. "I did think at first I must go right off and thank her for what her boy did for our Nannie. But when I said something of the sort to him, I could see at once he didn't want it. What sort of a woman used she to be?"
"She used to take a sort of pride in keeping herself to herself," said Dunn.
Susan shook her head slightly, and remarked: "Well, I'm not one to push myself on her, anyway."
Nancy said nothing. She was not much of a talker at any time.
Meanwhile Archie strode home at a brisk pace, and found dinner just ready, and Mrs. Stuart in her best gown and cap, looking very tall, starched, upright, clean, and solemn.
She greeted him with a short,—"You're late to-day."
Archie knew in a moment that something had happened in his absence to annoy her.
"I went to Church," he said.
"That's a new notion," said Mrs. Stuart.