of acknowledging the civility. The Colonel had no card
but a business card, which advertised the principal
depot and the several agencies of the mineral paint;
and Mrs. Lapham doubted, till she wished to goodness
that she had never seen nor heard of those people,
whether to ignore her husband in the transaction altogether,
or to write his name on her own card. She decided
finally upon this measure, and she had the relief of not
finding the family at home. As far as she could judge,
Irene seemed to suffer a little disappointment from the fact.

For several months there was no communication between
the families. Then there came to Nankeen Square
a lithographed circular from the people on the Hill,
signed in ink by the mother, and affording Mrs. Lapham
an opportunity to subscribe for a charity of undeniable
merit and acceptability. She submitted it to her husband,
who promptly drew a cheque for five hundred dollars.

She tore it in two. "I will take a cheque
for a hundred, Silas," she said.

"Why?" he asked, looking up guiltily at her.

"Because a hundred is enough; and I don't want to show
off before them."

"Oh, I thought may be you did. Well, Pert," he added,
having satisfied human nature by the preliminary thrust,
"I guess you're about right. When do you want I should begin