Drusilla Doane let the cloth fall into her lap, and all the other
women stopped their work to stare at the announcer of such wonderful
news.

"To see _me_, are you sure?"

"Yes, they asked to see Miss Drusilla Doane. You're the only one of
that name here, ain't you?"

Drusilla folded her work and placed it in the basket of linen by the
side of her chair.

"Yes, I guess it must mean me," she said, and rose to go.

As she passed around the house all the old ladies moved as if by a
common impulse.

"Come right here, Barbara Field, and tell us all about it. Who are
the men?"

"What did they look like?" questioned another.

"Take this chair and tell us all about it," said Miss Harris, the
youngest of the ladies; and a place was made in their midst and the
line closed around her.

"Put your teeth in, so's we can understand you."

Barbara groped around in the pocket of her apron; then, holding the
end of the apron up to her face, adroitly slipped her teeth into her