"So there was a party at Mr. Tozer's last night--and you were there, Mr. Vincent," said old Mrs. Tufton, a cheerful active old lady, with pink ribbons in her cap, which asserted their superiority over the doubtful light and the green shade of the geraniums. "Who did you have? The Browns and the Pigeons, and--everybody else, of course. Now tell me, did Mrs. Tozer make tea herself, or did she leave it to Phoebe?" "As well as I can remember, she did it herself," said the young pastor. "Exactly what I told you, mamma," said Adelaide, from her chair. "Mrs. Tozer doesn't mean Phoebe to make tea this many a year. I daresay she wants her to marry somebody, the little flirting thing. I suppose she wore her pink, Mr. Vincent--and Mrs. Brown that dreadful red-and-green silk of hers; and didn't they send you over a shape of jelly this morning? Ha, ha! I told you so, mamma; that was why it never came to me." "Pray let me send it to you," cried Vincent, eagerly. The offer was not rejected, though coquetted with for a few minutes. Then Mr. Tufton broke in, in solemn bass. "Adelaide, we shouldn't talk, my dear, of pinks and green silks. Providence has laid you aside, my love, from temptations; and you remember how often I used to say in early days, No doubt it was a blessing, Jemima, coming when it did, to wean our girl from the world; she might have been as fond of dress as other girls, and brought us to ruin, but for her misfortune. Everything is for the best." "Oh, bother!" said Adelaide, sharply--"I don't complain, and never did; but everybody else finds my misfortune, as they call it, very easy to be borne, Mr. Vincent--even papa, you see. There is a reason for everything, to be sure; but how things that are hard and disagreeable are always to be called for the best, I can't conceive. However, let us return to Phoebe Tozer's pink dress. Weren't you rather stunned with all their grandeur? You did not think we could do as much in Salem, did you? Now tell me, who has Mrs. Brown taken in hand to do good to now? I am sure she sent you to somebody; and you've been to see somebody this morning," added the quick-witted invalid, "who has turned out different from your expectations. Tell me all about it, please." "Dear Adelaide does love to hear what's going on. It is almost the only pleasure she has--and we oughtn't to grudge it, ought we?" said Adelaide's mother.