"Yes, to be sure," said Mrs. Brown. "And, now I think of it, I don't know how I shall get home. My girl's gone too. She says she gave me a week's warning, but I'm sure I haven't begun to get ready for her to go yet. I must try to get things picked up so we can wash to-morrow or next day, and it rains worse than ever." The caller had ridden over with Dr. Sanford, whom she had hailed as he passed her door. "'They that wash on Friday.'" quoted Flossy under her breath to Patty-- "'Wash for need.'" "'They that wash on Saturday, Oh, they are sluts indeed!'" retorted her cousin. "They won't get at it before that time." "I shall be ready after dinner," Mrs. Brown continued. "I guess Selina can pick up a pie or something for Joe.--Did I tell you, Mrs. Sanford, that we've heard from my cousin over to Samoset? He ain't really my cousin, only for marrying Eliza. But I feel for Eliza, I'm sure. He's run off with another woman, and Eliza's left to bring up her three boys. It's a mercy they ain't girls." "I declare it's awful!" her hostess said. "Who was the woman?" "She was the daughter of that Smithers woman that--you know." The hostess gave an emphatic nod of the head, as if to indicate that she was aware of some mysterious wickedness connected with the female in question. "But where did she come from?" she asked. "I thought she went off when Mr. Mullen died." "Yes, she did," Mrs. Brown assented. "But such folks always turn up again. And the strangest thing about it is,"--and here her voice sank to a confidential whisper,--"that they say Mr. Putnam"-- The entrance of Patty, who had been to make arrangements for the transfer of Mrs. Brown to her own home, put an abrupt end to the conversation. But the hint conveyed had not dropped upon barren soil. Mrs. Brown knew merely that Mrs. Smithers, in her first surprise and dismay at the flight of her daughter, had driven over to Montfield for Mr. Putnam. But before she slept that night, the doctor's wife had conveyed to Patty an impression that the most dreadful stories were told of the relations between the lawyer and this castaway. Patty treated the scandal with contempt; yet she could not but remember that Flossy had met her lover on the road to Samoset, and that Will had heard his name at the gates of Mullen House. "Will will take you home when he carries Floss to rehearsal," Patty said as she entered. "We are going to Mrs. Shankland's." CHAPTER XXII. A MISUNDERSTANDING.