These things and many more happened in the winter; in February, to be exact. A month later, when I came to make my annual visit in beloved Cyrus, things had "simpered down," as Mr. Mallow said. The excitement of Kitty's arrival, followed by the nine days' wonder of Miss Johanna Ross's return, were--not forgotten, no indeed! but laid away in spiritual camphor, as it were, to be aired and shaken out from time to time. "My dear," said Madam Flynt (one's first visit was always to Madam Flynt, one's second to the Misses Bygood: it was a Propriety of Cyrus!)--"it is not only that we could not get along without Kitty: we have forgotten that we ever did get along without her. She drives too fast; I go in fear of my life when we turn a corner; but except for that, it is an ideal arrangement." "The dear Doctor always drove fast!" Miss Croly looked up pensively from her knitting. "I suppose Kitty learned it naturally from him." "I suppose she did; but the dear Doctor never broke my neck, Cornelia Croly." "Kitty has not broken it, Clarissa, has she?" "Not yet, and I don't mean she shall. Where are you going, Cornelia?" "To get your milk-posset!" Miss Croly was rolling up her knitting methodically. "It is four o'clock." "I don't want milk-posset: get me some orange-juice!" "The Doctor recommended milk-posset!" Miss Croly's tone was mild, but firm. "I will try to make it palatable, Clarissa." "I tell you I won't have it! Whose house is this, I should like to know?" "Yours, assuredly, Clarissa. I can leave it at any moment you desire, but while here I must do my duty as I see it." "What a pretty scarf, Miss Croly!" I said hastily. How natural to be a buffer again! "Is it for a baby?" Madam Flynt uttered something between a snort and a chuckle. "Baby, indeed! I don't wonder you ask, my dear. Tell her what it's for, Cornelia Croly!" "For the deep-sea fishermen, my love!" Miss Croly glowed softly. "Most people send them gray mufflers, you know, but I feel as if a little variety, a touch of color, in their dangerous lives, would be desirable. The ocean! so grand, but so fraught with peril!" "In a storm, you understand," Madam Flynt actually snorted this time; "a pink, blue and yellow muffler would be more comforting than a gray one. Of course! Any one can see that!" "You are pleased to be facetious, my dear Clarissa;" Miss Croly paused, her hand on the door; "but I conceive that in case of disaster, the attention of a--of a bark of rescue would be more readily attracted by the waving of a bright object than of a dull one!" She slipped out quickly and shut the door quietly upon the last word. Madam Flynt looked after her with an air of exasperation. "The most provoking woman--I have half a mind to call her back! What were you saying, my dear?" I was saying as quickly as I could how very well Madam Flynt was looking. I hoped the rheumatism was fairly routed this time. The dear lady's brow cleared at once.