"Take a seat," I said, bowing.

"Good afternoon, Mis' Densin," to Clara.

"Mrs. De-mond," I said, pronouncing the name rather forcibly.

"Oh! De-mond is it?" with accent on the first syllable

"That is more like it," said Clara. "How do you do to-day? let me take your things."

"Don't feel very scrumptious, and ain't sick neither, kinder so so. How are all here? I heard Mis' Minot was gone. Ain't you lonesome?"

"We do miss her sadly," said Clara.

"Gone to a weddin', ain't she?" I laughed aloud.

"Only for a change," said Clara.

"Why, Mis' Grover"—