Divers Women

he season of dinner-getting he lay on the couch in the dining-room, with the weekly paper in his hand, himself engaged in running

remember that to-day is Sunday, and n

le of old magazines between whiles, in search of something with which to pass away the time, he passed through the hall on his return from church, and without exchanging a word with anyone went directly to his room. Once there, he turned the key in the lock, and then, as though that did not make him feel quite eno

ured, and the cloud deepens and glooms, he does not recover his free-and-easy air and manner. He ceases his walk after a little, from sheer weariness, but he thrusts out his arm a

r for bread and cake and cream, went to the closet up-stairs for a glass of jelly, went the entire round of weary steps necessary to the getting ready the Sunday feast, all the time with the flush on her cheek and the fire in her eye that told of a turbulent, eager, disappointed heart, and not once during the time did she think of the solemn words of prayer or hymn or sermon, or even benediction, of the mornin

ther awoke with a yawn to hear himself summoned to the feast. It was later than usual; many things had detained them; four o'clock quite, and before the army of dishes could b

d his mother, who had just realized the strangenes

ick to-day

am," he

perplexed, half-awed air. What had happened to Dwight? What change had come to him amid the afternoon

rious than exchange her silken dress for a wrapper, and lie on the sofa and finish the closing chapters of George Eliot's last new novel, since her return from church. Aye, it is true. She had been a listener in the same sanctuary where the earnest charge had rung, "Take heed what ye do; let the fear of the Lord be upon yo

ow do you like b

e doctor echoed,

called by name. Who else could Dr. Selmser have been hinting at when he burst forth with such a tirad

en, I dare say, that very evening, and as many more the next evening. They are common enough, I am sure. And he didn't say anything personal, nor anything very bad, anyho

ps in a most determined way, an

p as an example before the whole congregation, I'm sure you're welc

I thought; and I concluded he considered he had said about all there was to be said in that line, and might as well slip it over. There wasn't a personal sentence in it, anyhow. The doctor is a gentleman. More tha

o have their wives talked about as freely as yours was from the pulpit this morning. I tell

right. It did seem ridiculously funny to him. "A tempest in

t to his opinions, even if you don't agree with him. Better hush up, Maria. I don't believe

tle leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Aye, and a little acid sours the whole lump. Do you think Mrs. Dr. Matthews sallied out directly her meal was concluded, and openly and bitterly denounced Dr. Selmser as a pulpit slanderer? She did nothing of the sort. She chose her time and place and persons with skill and tact, and said, "Didn't they th

arrisons. It was natural, she supposed. Ministers were but human, and of course with their wealth and influence they could make their home very attractive to him; but she always felt sorry when she saw a clergyman neglecting the poor. Dr. Selmser certainly had cal

e knew just how many calls Dr. Selmser made on her in a year, and just how far apart they were. It really needed but a

you. And as often as you think about them, and dwell on their doings, they increase in number. A new name is added to the list every time you think it over; and the fair probability is that every single person you meet on that day when you have just gone over your troubles wil