"'I'll warrant it,' said Charity, with a triumphant chuckle.
"'And I heard him say, 'Edith, dear—'
"Here Charity pushed back her chair and rolled up the whites of her eyes like a duck in a thunderstorm.
"'Edith dear,' says he, 'rely upon me; never heed these slanderous stories; I will be your protector.' There, Charity, what do you think of that?'
"'She is a church-member,' said Charity, thoughtfully, 'isn't she? keep quiet, and watch her, the hypocrite! Did you say anything about it to Mrs. Snow, or the deacon!'
"'Not I,' said Pettingill; 'it would have fetched me out, you know, for listening; but I'm convinced the man has a 'canister' motive in going there.'
"'Sinister,' said Charity, reprovingly, who considered herself a scholar.
"'Well, canister or sinister, it makes no difference to me,' said Pettingill. 'I know what I think of her. It's no use talking to the Snow's; they won't believe anything against her.'
"'That's very true,' said Mrs. Snow, who had entered unperceived, and heard a great part of their conversation. 'Mrs. Clark has been with us six months, and is blameless and correct in her deportment. She has been shamefully ill-treated and slandered by her husband, as I know, and the gentleman about whom you were getting up such a fine story is her brother, who has just returned from Europe. When he said he 'would protect her,' he intended to be as good as his word; and for your own sakes I would advise you to bear it in mind. I have the pleasure to wish you both good-morning.'
"'There's a tempest in a thimble,' said Charity, as she drew a long breath.