Rhoda Meserve coming down the street, and
knew at once by the trend of her steps and the cant of her head
that she meditated turning in at her gate. She also knew by a
certain something about her general carriage--a thrusting forward
of the neck, a bustling hitch of the shoulders--that she had
important news. Rhoda Meserve always had the news as soon as the
news was in being, and generally Mrs. John Emerson was the first to
whom she imparted it. The two women had been friends ever since
Mrs. Meserve had married Simon Meserve and come to the village to
live.
Mrs. Meserve was a pretty woman, moving with graceful flirts of
ruffling skirts; her clear-cut, nervous face, as delicately tinted
as a shell, looked brightly from the plumy brim of a black hat at
Mrs. Emerson in the window. Mrs. Emerson was glad to see her
coming. She returned the greeting with enthusiasm, then rose
hurriedly, ran into the cold parlour and brought out one of the
best rocking-chairs. She was just in time, after drawing it up
beside the opposite window, to greet her friend at the door.
"Good-afternoon," said she. "I declare, I'm real glad to see you.
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