ACT II

Minister Anderson's house is in the main street of Websterbridge,
not far from the town hall. To the eye of the eighteenth century
New Englander, it is much grander than the plain farmhouse of the
Dudgeons; but it is so plain itself that a modern house agent
would let both at about the same rent. The chief dwelling room
has the same sort of kitchen fireplace, with boiler, toaster
hanging on the bars, movable iron griddle socketed to the hob,
hook above for roasting, and broad fender, on which stand a
kettle and a plate of buttered toast. The door, between the
fireplace and the corner, has neither panels, fingerplates nor
handles: it is made of plain boards, and fastens with a latch.
The table is a kitchen table, with a treacle colored cover of
American cloth, chapped at the corners by draping. The tea
service on it consists of two thick cups and saucers of the
plainest ware, with milk jug and bowl to match, each large enough
to contain nearly a quart, on a black japanned tray, and, in the
middle of the table, a wooden trencher with a big loaf upon it,
and a square half pound block of butter in a crock. The big oak
press facing the fire from the opposite side of the room, is for
use and storage, not for ornament; and the minister's house coat
hangs on a peg from its door, showing that he is out; for when he
is in it is his best coat that hangs there. His big riding boots
stand beside the press, evidently in their usual place, and
rather proud of themselves. In fact, the evolution of the
minister's kitchen, dining room and drawing room into three
separate apartments has not yet taken place; and so, from the
point of view of our pampered period, he is no better off than