dinner at any time except in the middle of the day. Also, she was
the first person there to say, "Come to me" when she meant "Come to
our house." It had a Scriptural sound and was thought shocking until
Carthage grew used to it.

It was due to her that several elderly men were forced into their
first evening dress. They had thought to escape through life without
that ordeal. Old Clute would have preferred to be fitted for a pine
box, and would have felt about as comfortable in it. He tried to
compromise with the tailor on a garment that could serve as a Prince
Albert by day and a "swaller tail" by night, but Mr. Kweskin could
not manage it even though his Christian name was Moses.

So Mr. Clute blamed Mrs. Budlong for yet another expense. Husbands
all over town were blaming Mrs. Budlong for running their families
into fool extravagances. Mothers were blaming her for dragging them
round by the nose and leaving them no rest. But everybody in town
resentfully obeyed Mrs. Budlong, though Mrs. Roscoe Detwiller wanted
to organize a HomeKeepers Union, and strike. For the women never
dared trust themselves about the house in a wrapper, since Mrs.
Budlong might happen in as like as not--rather liker than not.

And then, just as the town was fermenting for revolt, Mrs. Budlong
came into a lot of money.




IV