"And who are the Maverings?"

"Why, it's an old Boston name--"

"It's too old, isn't it? Like Pasmer. There are no Maverings in Boston
that I ever heard of."

"No; the name's quite died out just here, I believe: but it's old, and it
bids fair to be replated at Ponkwasset Falls."

"At Ponk--"

"That's where they have their mills, or factories, or shops, or whatever
institution they make wall-paper in."

"Wall-paper!" cried Mrs. Pasmer, austerely. After a moment she asked:
"And is wall-paper the 'thing' now? I mean--" She tried to think of some
way of modifying the commonness of her phrase, but did not. After all, it
expressed her meaning.

"It isn't the extreme of fashion, of course. But it's manufacturing, and
it isn't disgraceful. And the Mavering papers are very pretty, and you
can live with them without becoming anaemic, or having your face twitch."

"Face twitch?" echoed Mrs. Pasmer.

"Yes; arsenical poisoning."

"Oh! Conscientious as well as aesthetic. I see. And does Mr. Mavering put
his artistic temperament into them?"