For a few moments we sat in silence, but I fear my grace was as graceless as my morning worship had been. Miss Warren's manner was reverent. Were her thoughts also wandering? and whither? She certainly held mine, and by a constraint that was not unwelcome. When she lifted her expressive eyes I concluded that she had done better than merely comply with a religious custom. "The spirit of this home has infected you," I said. "It might be well for you also to catch the infection." "I know it would be well for me, and wish to expose myself to it to the utmost. You are the only obstacle I fear." "I?" "Yes. I will explain after supper." "To explain that you have good cause to ask for time," "Richard Morton, does thee like much sugar in thy tea?" Mrs. Yocomb asked. "No-yes, none at all, if you please." My hostess looked at me a little blankly, and Adah and Silas Jones giggled. "A glass of milk will help us both out of our dilemma," I said, with a laugh. "An editor should be able to think of two things at once," Miss Warren remarked, in a low aside. "That depends on the subject of his thoughts. But don't breathe that word here, or I'm undone." "Richard Morton," said Mr. Yocomb, "I hope thee feels the better for mother's ministrations since we came home. Will thee pass thy plate for some more of the same kind?" "Mrs. Yocomb has done me good ever since I followed her into the meeting-house," I replied. "I am indeed the better for her dinner, and I ought to be. I feared you would all be aghast at the havoc I made. But it is your kindness and hospitality that have done me the most good, I would not have believed yesterday afternoon that my fortunes could have taken so favorable a turn." "Why, what was the matter with you then?" asked Adah, with wide-eyed curiosity; and little Zillah looked at me with a pitying and puzzled glance. "A common complaint in the city. I was committing suicide, and yesterday became conscious of the fact." "Mr. Morton must have hit on an agreeable method of suicide, since he could commit it unconsciously," Miss Warren remarked mischievously. "I read in Emily Warren's newspaper this afternoon," said Silas Jones, with awkward malice, "of a young fellow who got a girl to marry him by pretending to commit suicide. He didn't hurt himself much though." The incident amused Adah exceedingly, and I saw that Miss Warren's eyes were full of laughter. Assuming a shocked expression, I said: "I am surprised that Miss Warren takes a paper so full of insidious evil." Then, with the deepest gravity, I remarked to Silas Jones, "I have recently been informed, sir, on good authority, that each one instinctively finds and reads in a newspaper that which he likes or needs. I sincerely hope, my dear sir, that the example you have quoted will not lead you to adopt a like method."