The Staying Guest

little old town which was safely beyond the reach of

a big, kind hill, at the top of which was a bea

t family for generations; and at present was occupied only by two elderly

int was like unto her, except that she was a little taller, straighter, thinner, stiffer, and a trifle more stately and old-fashioned. And these ladies, whene'er they took their walks abroad, or drives either, for that matter

sy to see why Primrose Hall was the sti

ng breeze came in to tell it the news. Even the clock ticked softly and very regularly; the well-bred fire never crackl

f poking out a stray leaf or twig, and every blade of grass on the lawn measured

open, for it was the next window but one to where the ice-box stood. But the sun was in a mischievous mood, and he aimed his beams again and again at the parlor windows in hopes that he could squeeze himself in and fade a sofa or a bit of carpet. And finally he did get in through a tiny space at the side

sed again, and the shades drawn to preserve the carpets and furniture from any possible contamination of sun and dust. This caused a sort of artificial night during the midd

in every household matter to express her opinion at length, and then to ask Miss Dorinda what she thought about it. And as Mi

satin sofa, and was so provoked about it that he went behind a cloud to sulk, and stayed there quite a lit

it to you, for I thought I might have been mistaken, as I had on my near-glasses, but Martha says she saw it too, so there can be no doubt about

nda, "it is quite time, and w

speech, for how can any one clean what i

s a new penny, yet a semi-annual housecleaning occurred as regularly as the spring and fall came; and, indeed,

great arm-chairs facing each other, and in these chairs the two ladies s

ressed it, Bridget, the cook, appeared-automatically, it s

orders for the day, then dismissed h

e was a pretty young German girl, and seemed

clean the attic. Send Matthew after Mrs. Dolan and her gr

and Miss Priscilla and Miss Dorinda went t

idery at throat and wrists, and a huge checked gingham apron. As Miss Priscilla observed, "No one can work if she is conscious of her clothes," and this garb had been chosen as the best possible compromise between usefulness and co

n o'clock the pr

hen Martha, with dusters, hammer and tacks, camphor-balls and moth-powders. Then Mrs. Dolan, with big broom, little broom, and dust-pa

the attic seemed to be in the path of a well-trained cyclone. Quilts and feather beds were shaken and beaten; trunks and chests were emptied of contents which were unrolled, inspected, rolled

ink of chicken-pie," said Miss Dorin

ed tones, by reason of her head and

me in the morning to spend the day, and she stayed a full-fledged week. I thou

a; "and then when she got

onions in it. And the cats wouldn't eat it: nothin

said Miss Priscilla; "but I just hate

t seems a duty,"

s fortunate neighbors; but that doesn't mean we're to open our doors and let them all come in and make themselves at h

iver to come for her agai

e stayed another week. M

ouldn't do anyt

tell them they can't stay. Now here's another matter. The Dorcas Circle wants to make up a box o

ss Dorinda, in

hey say, keep a thing seven years, and you'll have use for it again; but we've kept these things

inda, still dazed, "p

m to India. A year or so later the Flint ladies heard from Mr. Lovell that his wife had died, leaving a tiny baby named Lavinia. He sent them no address, so they could not have answered his let

, and if one of the family did wrong, the others

sses and other girlish finery were packed awa

pleasure in her girlish enjoyments. But when she left them, with only a note to say she had elop

looked over and put in order, with no reference to their future d

as and organdies and embroidered muslins did seem inappropriate to

saucers, as she looked at the beautiful show, "ain't them just

ck," said Miss Dorinda; "she looked like a spri

a snap, and returned the dresses to their trunks and shut down the

worked all day, and at five o'clock the attic was

her own room, "how tired I am! I believe I g

c is done. When that's over I always fe

to sing; I'll rest