I think I forgot to say that Mrs. Myrtle and Mrs. Bennett were in the same ‘set’ as young ladies, and were very intimate.

The nest day Mrs. Bennett opened the subject to Mr. Myrtle, his wife having duly prepared him.  The object was to introduce Hiram into the church in the most effective manner.  This could only be done through the instrumentality of the reverend gentleman himself.  Everything went smoothly.  Mr. Myrtle was not insensible to the value of infusing new and fresh elements into his congregation.

‘Of course,’ he observed, ’this wealthy young man will take an entire pew.’ (The annual auction of rented pews was soon to come off, and Mr. Myrtle liked marvellously to see strong competition.  It spoke well for the church.)

‘He will purchase a pew, if a desirable one can be had,’ answered Mrs. Bennett.

’Oh, that is well.  How fortunate!  The Winslows are going to Europe to reside, and I think will sell theirs.  One of the best in the church.  Pray ask Mr. Bennett to look after it.’

’Thank you.  How very considerate, how very thoughtful!  We will see to it at once.’

The interview ended, after some further conversation, in a manner most satisfactory.

* * * * *

It was a magnificent autumnal afternoon, the second week of October, when Hiram Meeker, by previous appointment, called at the residence of the Rev. Augustus Myrtle.  The house was built on to the church, so as to correspond in architecture, and exhibited great taste in exterior as well as interior arrangement.  Hiram walked up the steps and boldly rang the bell.  He had improved a good deal in some respects since his passage at arms with Dr. Chellis, and while under the auspices of Mr. Bennett.  He had laid aside the creamy air he used so frequently to assume, and had hardened himself, so to speak, against contingencies.  I was saying he marched boldly up and rang the bell.

A footman in unexceptionable livery opened the door.  Mr. Myrtle was engaged, but on Hiram’s sending in his name, he was ushered into the front parlor, and requested to sit, and informed that Mr. Myrtle would see him in a few minutes.  This gave Hiram time to look about him.

It so happened that it was the occasion of a preliminary gathering for the season (there had been no meeting since June) of those who belonged to the ’Society for the Relief of Reduced Ladies of former Wealth and Refinement.’  This ‘relief’ consisted in furnishing work to the recipients of the bounty at prices about one quarter less than they could procure elsewhere, and without experiencing a sense of obligation which these charitable ladies managed to call forth.

There was already in the back parlor a bevy of six or eight, principally young, fine-looking, and admirably dressed women.

Arrayed in the most expensive silks, of rich colors, admirably corresponding with the season, fitted in a mode the most faultless to the exquisite forms of these fair creatures, or made dexterously to conceal any natural defect, they rose, they sat, they walked up and down the room, greeting from time to time the new comers as they arrived.