"'Why, you know she boards at Deacon Ephraim Snow's--I wonder at his having her in his house, and he a _deacon_ too. But you know Mrs. Clark has 'mazin pretty ways with her, and she's got round him somehow. Well, you know I do washing for his wife, and speaking of _that_, she's horrid stingy of her soap. Well, t'other day she sent me up garret, as it rained, to hang up the clothes, and as I went by Mrs. Clark's room, it struck me I'd just peep into the key-hole and listen a bit.' Here Charity drew up her chair so close that the tips of their noses met; saying, in a hoarse whisper,
"'La! don't frighten me so,' said Pettingill; 'your eyes look like a cat's in the dark! I saw a very fine-looking gentleman--'
"'_I'll warrant it_,' said Charity, with a triumphant chuckle.
"Here Charity pushed back her chair and rolled up the whites of her eyes like a duck in a thunderstorm.
"'Edith dear,' says he, 'rely upon me; never heed these slanderous stories; I will be your protector.' There, Charity, what do you think of that?'
"'She is a church-member,' said Charity, thoughtfully, 'isn't she? keep quiet, and watch her, the hypocrite! Did you say anything about it to Mrs. Snow, or the deacon!'
"'Not I,' said Pettingill; 'it would have fetched _me_ out, you know, for _listening_; but I'm convinced the man has a '_canister_' motive in going there.'
"'_Sinister_,' said Charity, reprovingly, who considered herself a scholar.
"'Well, _canister_ or _sinister_, it makes no difference to _me_,' said Pettingill. 'I know what _I_ think of her. It's no use talking to the Snow's; _they_ won't believe anything against her.'
"'That's very true,' said Mrs. Snow, who had entered unperceived, and heard a great part of their conversation. 'Mrs. Clark has been with us six months, and is blameless and correct in her deportment. She has been shamefully ill-treated and slandered by her husband, as _I_ know, and the gentleman about whom you were getting up such a fine story is her _brother_, who has just returned from Europe. When he said he 'would protect her,' he intended to be as good as his word; and for your own sakes I would advise you to _bear it in mind_. I have the pleasure to wish you both good-morning.'