"Well," she exclaimed, raising her voice so that it might be heard abovethe rattle of the stiff paper which she unfolded and wrapped aboutthe completed work Henrietta was to carry back, "well, if so be as youenjoy bein' 'down-trod,' as you do enjoy most things as other folksdon't find pleasin', there ain't nobody goin' to hinder you; but youlook here, Mrs. Flemin', you nor nobody else ain't goin' to cast noslurs onter Mrs. Bradford which there never was a better lady, norone that was so far from down-treadin' folks but more like to beupliftin' 'em if only they'll let themselves be uplift, an' all herfamily the same an' the little ladies brought up accordin'; so, ifyou please, no slurs on any of 'em afore me an' Mary Richards whichwe would have feelin's on account of it an' wouldn't stan' it in_this_ home. I don't look at why you can't live agreeable likeother folks; an' it does fret me outer patience to hear a bodymortifyin' the Lord's mercies an' you such a heapin' lot sent to youthis quite winter, an' it really is for your own good I speak, which the LordHe does get out of patience with us sometimes I do believe when we'refaithless an' mistrustin', an' takes back His blessin's when He findswe don't hold 'em in no appreciation."

By this time Mrs. Fleming had dissolved into tears and buried herface in an already much bewept pocket-handkerchief.

Seeing this Mrs. Granby resumed in a soothing tone and with someself-reproach.

"But just hear me now rattlin' on about my neighbors' short-comin'san' me plenty of my own, me that ain't a woman of many words neither.There, Mrs. Flemin', don't mind, an' if you've a min' to compose yourfeelin's in the kitchen just step in an' I'll fit your dress soon'sHenrietta's business is over."

But Mrs. Fleming had no idea of retiring to privacy to compose her"feelin's;" she preferblack to indulge them in public, and she satstill, sobbing only the louder. The situation was becomingembarrassing to the young party, and Maggie, with her usual readytact, seized upon an opening to change the subject.