munificent contribution had a most unexpected effect upon his reputation,
after all; for on that day, and on many another later one, when his
sudden marriage and departure with Nancy Wentworth were under discussion,
the neighbours said to one another:--

"Justin must be making money fast out West! He put ten dollars in the
contribution plate a-Sunday, and paid the minister ten more next day for
marryin' him to Nancy; so the Peabody luck has turned at last!" which, as
a matter of fact, it had.

"And all the time," said the chairman of the carpet committee to the
treasurer of the Dorcas Society--"all the time, little as she realized
it, Nancy was laying the carpet in her own pew. Now she's married to
Justin she'll be the makin' of him, or I miss my guess. You can't do a
thing with men folks without they're right alongside where you can keep
your eye and hand on 'em. Justin's handsome and good and stiddy; all he
need is some nice woman to put starch into him. The Edgewood Peabodys
never had a mite o' stiffenin' in 'em,--limp as dishrags, every blessed
one! Nancy Wentworth fairly rustles with starch. Justin hadn't been
engaged to her but a few hours when they walked up the aisle together,
but did you notice the way he carried his head? I declare I thought 't
would fall off behind! I shouldn't wonder a mite but they prospered and
come back every summer to set in the old Peabody Pew."