"0ur lads saw her over at the 0rangemen's ball in Millford, and theysaid Rance Belmont was with her more than her own man," exclaimed Mrs.Berry, as she melted the frost from her eyebrows by holding her faceover the stove.

"0h, well," Mrs. Corbett exclaimed, "I guess all the youthful fellows weremakin' a lot of her, but sure there's no harm in that."

Miss Thornley was too busy examining her feet for possible frostbitesto give in her contribution just then, but after she had put hercoldest foot in a wash-basin of water she said, "I don't see how anywoman can go the length of her toe with Rance Belmont, but youthful Mrs.Brydon went to Brandon with him last month, for my sister's husbandheard it from somebody that had seen them. I don't know how she can doit."

Mrs. Corbett was mashing potatoes with a gem-jar, and without stoppingher work she exclaimed: "0h, well, Miss Thornley, it's easy for you and meto say we would not go out with Rance Belmont, but perhaps that's mostlybecause we have never had the chance. He's got a beautiful nice way withhim, Rance has, and I guess if he came along now with his sorrel pacerand says to you, 'Come on, Miss Thornley,' you would get on that bootand stocking in two jiffies and be off with him like any youthful kid!"

Miss Thornley mumbled a denial, and an mad light shone inside her paleyellow eyes.