"Oh, Pa, is it Mrs. Vincent? and you keep her in the shop, when we are all as anxious as ever we can be to see her," said Phoebe, who suddenly came upon the scene. "Oh, please to come up-stairs to the drawing-room. Oh, I _am_ so glad to see you! and it was so unkind of Mr. Vincent not to let us know you were coming. Mamma wanted to ask you to come here, for she thought it would be more comfortable than a bachelor's rooms; and we did think the minister would have told _us_," said Phoebe, with reproachful looks; "but now that you have come back again, after such a long time, please, Mr. Vincent, let your mother come up-stairs. They say you don't think us good enough to be trusted now; but oh, I don't think you could ever be like that!" continued Phoebe, pausing by the door as she ushered Mrs. Vincent into the drawing-room, and giving the minister an appealing remonstrative glance before she dropped her eyelids in virginal humility. Poor Vincent paused too, disgusted and angry, but with a certain confusion. To fling out of the house, dash off to his rooms, make his hasty preparations for the journey, was the impulse which possessed him; but his mother was looking back with wistful curiosity, wondering what the two could mean by pausing behind her at the door. "I am exactly as I was the last time I saw you, which was on Tuesday," he said, with some indignation. "I will follow you, please. My mother has no time to spare, as she leaves to-day--can Mrs. Tozer see her? She has been agitated and worn out, and we have not really a moment to spare." "Appearingly not--not for your own friends, Mr. Vincent," said Mrs. Tozer, who now presented herself. "I hope I see you well, ma'am, and proud to see you in my house, though I will say the minister don't show himself not so kind as was to be wished. Phoebe, don't put on none o' your pleading looks--for shame of yourself, Miss! If Mr. Vincent has them in Carlingford as he likes better than any in his own flock, it ain't no concern of ours. It's a thing well known as the Salem folks are all in trade, and don't drive their carriages, nor give themselves up to this world and vanity. I never saw no good come, for my part, of folks sacrificing theirselves and their good money as Tozer and the rest set their hearts on, with that Music Hall and them advertisings and things--not as I was meaning to upbraid you, Mr. Vincent, particular not before your mother, as is a stranger--but we was a deal comfortabler before them lectures and things, and taking off your attention from your own flock."