"Ha! my dear," said Mr. Somers, "if opening the window of my study is going to let trouble come in, I'd rather--ha--keep it shut! Judge Harrison thinks the teacher is a very fine man--and I've no doubt he is!--and the Judge is going to give him a great celebration. I have no doubt we shall all enjoy it. I think the disturbance that has been made will not give Mr. Linden any more trouble." "Why who cares about his trouble?" said Mrs. Somers rather briskly,--"I dare say he's very good, Mr. Somers, but I sha'n't fret over _him_. I'm not sure but he's a little _too_ good for my liking--I'm not sure that it's quite natural. Jenny! fetch some more biscuit!--how long do you suppose Mr. Somers and I can live upon one?" Parson Somers eat porridge and studied the philosophy of Mrs Somers' statements. "My dear," said he at length,--"I am not sure that you are correct in your view--indeed it seems to me--a--rather contradictory. I don't know what the stir is about; and I don't think there is any occasion, my dear, for you--a--to fret, about anything. Not about Mr. Linden, certainly. The disaffection to the new school was--a--confined to very few! I don't think it has taken root in the public mind generally. You will be better able to form a judgment on Thursday." "Bless your heart! Mr. Somers," said his wife, "what's Thursday to do? If you think I've said all I _could_ say--why there's no help for it. Now there's Sam Deacon--don't come to meeting half the time lately,--and to match that, Faith Derrick walks into Sunday school with one of those Seacomb children tagging after her." "Well," said Mr. Somers looking exceedingly mystified,--"what's the harm in that? If Miss Faith chooses to do it, it shews, I am sure, a--a charitable disposition,--praiseworthy!" "Mr. Somers!"--said the lady. "Is it possible you can think for one moment that I mean what you mean? If she came to Society too, I should know what to make of it, but when people work alongside of some folks, and not alongside of others, why it's as long as it's broad. Then Maria Davids says she drove those boys over to Neanticut 'tother day--or helped drive 'em. What do you think of that, Mr. Somers?" Mr. Somers looked as if his wife was too fast for him. "My dear," said he however, plucking up,--"I think I would trust Faith Derrick as soon as Maria Davids, or--any other young lady in Pattaquasset! If she did go to Neanticut I presume it was all as it should be. Squire Deacon never was--a--very remarkable for being a religious man or anything like that; and you can't help folks working alongside of each other--they will do it," said Mr. Somers relapsing into his jocular mood. "I am a man of peace, my dear, and you should be a woman of peace."