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 And I liked not to ask Mistress Ford to charge her mind wi' telling ye!"

Mehitable took the little package of thread which Mistress Thompson handed to her, and putting it into her reticule, looked at the other laughingly.

"Your tarrying upstairs gave us opportunity to meet His Excellency's lady, so we feel not at all wrought up o'er your not appearing!" she remarked, curtseying. And Mistress Thompson instantly congratulated her, saying that not everyone could have that privilege, for Madam Washington was a home body, did not go forth abroad much, and generally was to be seen only by chance, as had happened that day.

"Come again, young maids," she said, nodding and smiling as she let them out the door.

Wending their way back through the storm, which had indeed grown worse, and now blew them along toward home with a wintry force that made them lean upon the wind, with their capes and their skirts flying out in front of them as though leading the way, the sisters were full of their unexpected glimpse of the great lady.

"But she be so homelike!" said Mehitable, in a disappointed voice. "I thought to see a fine lady!"

"Aye, so did I, wearing a gown o' silk and satin! Why, Hitty, she—she might ha' been Mother, wi'