"Miss Kilburn, I must apologise for not having called with Mrs. Putney to
pay my respects. I have been away; when I got back I found she had stolen
a march on me. But I'm going to make Ellen bring me at once. I don't think
I've been in your house since the old Judge's time. Well, he was an able
man, and a good man; I was awfully fond of the old Judge, in a boy's way."

"Thank you," said Annie, touched by something gentle and honest in his
words.

"He was a Christian gentleman," said Mr. Gerrish. with authority.

Putney said, without noticing Mr. Gerrish, "Well, I'm glad you've come back
to the old place, Miss Kilburn--I almost said Annie."

"I shouldn't have minded, Ralph," she retorted.

"Shouldn't you? Well, that's right." Putney continued, ignoring the
laugh of the others at Annie's sally: "You'll find Hatboro' pretty
exciting, after Rome, for a while, I suppose. But you'll get used to
it. It's got more of the modern improvements, I'm told, and it's more
public-spirited--more snap to it. I'm told that there's more enterprise in
Hatboro', more real _crowd_ in South Hatboro' alone, than there is in
the Quirinal and the Vatican put together."

"You had better come and live at South Hatboro', Mr. Putney; that would be
just the atmosphere for you," said Mrs. Munger, with aimless hospitality.
She said this to every one.

"Is it about coming to South Hatboro' you want to consult me?" asked