She had on her fine red and yellow shawl, and on her hat a bunch of large white feathers, higher and bushier than Mrs.
Stein had ever seen in her life.

The doctor's wife greeted her guest with the fervent though unspoken hope that that lady would immediately unfold the object of her coming, so that the visit might speedily come to a close, and she herself go back to her children's packing.

Not so; Mrs.Bickel opened the conversation with a remark upon the weather, which she thought was growing worse and worse.

Mrs.Stein agreed with her.

Then followed "the cherries"; they had not ripened well this summer.