"You bet," replied Alick. "Did you hear about the woman's club?" "Some." "What they goin' to do?" "Well," Sam drawled, "near's I can make out, they're goin' to improve themselves, where there's room for improvement, and scatter blessin's 'round to other folks while they're doin' it. I heard that yesterday they voted ten dollars for a pink tea, and one dollar seventy-five for foreign missions, and--" Sam was interrupted by Mrs. Stout, who had approached unobserved by either of the gossipers. "You're lyin', Sam Billin's," she called, sharply. It was evident that she had overheard Sam's remarks. "Hello, Mis' Stout," called Sam, unabashed, as he peeked over the edge of the roof. "I hear you're a bright and shinin' light in _our_ new club." "Don't you let me hear of you tellin' any more such whoppers, Sam Billin's. Lies breed fast enough in this town without any extra help from you," replied Mrs. Stout, as she looked up at his grinning face, and then turning to Alick, continued, "Ain't you got anything else to do, Alick Purbeck, 'cept sit behind a big cigar and listen to that shiftless critter up there? Go 'long now, or I'll talk your case over with Peter." Alick drove away, and Sam went to work. Mrs. Stout started on her way, but had gone only a few steps when she met Mrs. Darling returning from Mrs. Thornton's. "Good morning, Mrs. Stout," she said, "I'm so glad to see you, aren't you out early?" "Good land! no; I'm goin' over to see your friend Mis' Thornton about her baby. Everybody's s'posed to be foolish over their first baby, but I guess from what I heard yesterday that she's overdoin' it. She's feedin' him on samples--turns up her nose at cow's milk--and I just made up my mind that she needed a talkin' to whether she wanted it or not." "No doubt you are right, Mrs. Stout, but--" "Right, I know I am--such nonsense. Of course you folks that ain't had no children, and don't want any, can't be expected to--" Mrs. Stout stopped suddenly and looked up. Sam was looking and listening with the earnest attention of an incurable gossip. "Eavesdroppin', are you?" said Mrs. Stout, contemptuously, and then turning to Mrs. Darling added, "Don't you believe one word that scallywag up there tells you. He gets his news from wash-women and servant girls." "Well," drawled Sam, "I've noticed that what you hear at back doors is most always nearer the truth than what you hear at the front, though it ain't quite so flatterin'." Chapter IV The "Glories" Meet Again IT was Wednesday, and the morning was as bright and beautiful as the flower for which the new club had been named. Across the road from Mr. Flint's church stood the dingy white parsonage, its windows glistening in the morning sunlight. It was there, and on this particular morning, that the second meeting of the "Glories" was to be held.