Mrs. Smith leaned toward the window, and took in a view of the carriage, with the two men sitting impatiently in the coachman’s seat. “Do you really mean that, Mrs. Carter?” “That, and an open carriage, besides a couper for Carter, and two saddle-horses, in case Carter and I might want to take lessons and ride in the Park together.” “But how, Mrs. Carter, how?” inquired Mrs. Smith, open-mouthed with wonder. “You know Carter got into the feed-business; that led him to hosses and mules, and sich. Well, the army wanted hosses; Carter went in under contract. Then the hosses wanted feed, he went in under contract again. Then he got into produce, which kept a running up and down, for ever so long; there he made and made, keeping his eye-teeth sharp, you know.” “Mercy on me! You take away my breath, Mrs. Carter!” “No wonder; it took mine away more than once. After this, he hooked in with a clothing-house, and that was the best of all. Everything substantial but the clothes. Well, these things rolled up, and this is just what it has come to.” Here Mrs. Carter spread her two hands, and rustled her garments with a jovial laugh, while her old friend stepped back and surveyed her from head to foot, with glowing admiration. “And you don’t seem a bit different,” she broke forth at length. Mrs. Carter flushed red, and drew the lace shawl about her with emphatic protest. “You think so, Mrs. Smith; but others are of a different opinion.” Mrs. Smith, for the first time, felt rebuffed, and answered, meekly, “You were asking about Smith. He’s been a-doing very well—very well, indeed; in the grocery line, though. You can see our store from the front yard here.” Mrs. Carter leaned out of the window, and took a survey of her friend’s place of business, which had a respectable show of prosperity. “That looks like living,” she said; “and I’m right down glad of it.” “We live over the store, snug and comfortable,” answered Mrs. Smith, highly pleased. “Children all alive?” inquired Mrs. Carter, with hesitation. “Alive and hearty, thank goodness!” Mrs. Carter heaved a deep sigh. “Smith,” she said, “I should like to take a look at your young ones. I’m not used to seeing children, in these days, crowding the doors by dozens, as they did in our old neighborhood, where Smith and Carter were such friends, and you and I—— Well, never mind about that. I haven’t forgotten it. Wait a minute, I’m going home with you. Good-bye, little girl. Don’t she look like a lily, lying there?” “She’s got a lovely color,” answered Mrs. Smith. “I never saw the like of it on her cheek before. But where is Mrs. Laurence? Always at work? Mrs. Laurence, I say! My friend, Mrs. Carter, is going.”