hear. She had understood.

"She was a good, respectable girl," she said. "However can she have
forgotten herself like that? Where's her sister Annie?"

"They do say she's nearly as bad," replied Dick. "He's rather a taking
man--good-looking and hearty, and dresses better than the farmers, and
his wife went off with a trainer too."

"Her grandmother's only been dead two years, and she's been allowed to
go wrong like that," exclaimed Anne, with condemnation of herself in her
voice.

"Well, you know," expostulated Dick, "I don't know as it's anybody's
business. Everybody's got their own affairs to attend to."

"Oh yes! I know," said Anne. "It's never anybody's business to try to
prevent such things, but it'll be everybody's business to throw stones
at the girl very soon, if the man tires of her."

"I don't know about preventing," returned Dick; "she seemed pretty set
on him herself. I think myself it's a pity. Here's the eggs from Mary
Colton, Miss Hilton--three dozen," he added, as a diversion from the
conversation, which he found more embarrassing than the sermon he had
successfully avoided. With that he escaped from the chair with a jerk,
scuffled his feet once or twice on the floor, took his cap out of his
pocket, and ejaculated "Good-night."

"Good-night," replied Anne, still preoccupied. "Thank you for bringing
the eggs;" and she sat down with a slight groan.