No wonder hard working girls were getting sick and tired of housework! As already hinted there was no unhealthy curiosity among Massapequans regarding their new neighbors from the city but some of the more prominent people of the place considered it their duty to seek at least a bowing acquaintance with the Rossmores by paying them a formal visit.

So the day following the conversation on the porch when the judge and Stott had gone to the city on one of their periodical excursions, Mrs.Rossmore was startled to see a gentleman of clerical appearance accompanied by a tall, angular woman enter their gate and ring the bell.
The Rev.Percival Pontifex Deetle and his sister Miss Jane Deetle prided themselves on being leaders in the best social circle in Massapequa.

The incumbent of the local Presbyterian church, the Rev.Deetle, was a thin, sallow man of about thirty-five.

He had a diminutive face with a rather long and very pointed nose which gave a comical effect to his physiognomy.

Theology was written all over his person and he wore the conventional clerical hat which, owing to his absurdly small face, had the unfortunate appearance of being several sizes too large for him.