It is true, his collar was not all the style, and his necktie was too wide, and his coat sleeves too small, and his boots too rusty, and his vest too much soiled; but she made allowance for the circumstances, and his hasty journey, and so excused his tout ensemble.

She had resumed her seat by the fire, sitting where she could look the culprit directly in the face; while good Aunt Barbara occupied the middle position, and, with her fat, soft hands shaking terribly, tried to pick up the stitches Tabby had pulled out.

That personage, too, had had her chicken wing out in the woodshed, and, knowing nothing of Ethie's grievances, had mounted into Richard's lap, where she lay, slowly blinking and occasionally purring a little, as Richard now and then passed his hand over her soft fur.
"Now tell us: Why did Ethelyn go away ?--that is, what reason did she give ?" It was Mrs.Dr.Van Buren who asked this question, her voice betokening that nothing which Richard could offer as an excuse would be received.
They must have Ethie's reason or none.

Richard would far rather Mrs.
Dr.Van Buren had been in Boston, or Paris, or Guinea, than there in Chicopee, staring so coolly at him; but as her being there was something he could not help, he accepted it as a part of the train of calamities closing so fast about him, and answered, respectfully: "It was no one thing which made her go, but the culmination of many.
There was a mistake on my part.

I thought her guilty when she was not, and charged her with it in a passion, saying things I would give much to recall.