The mining engineer had a pretty young wife, with whom Henrietta immediately made friends.

Ladies love the close companionship of their own sex best whenever something entirely different is occupying their thoughts.
On the morning of the great day the big-wigs of the little town hastened to pay their respects to the great lady who had arrived in their midst, and whose reputation for benevolence had spread far and wide.

Amongst them was an aged woman whose hands and head were continually shaking, and who almost collapsed with terror every time anybody accosted her unexpectedly.

She was the widow of a Unitarian pastor, well to do, people said, and a large mining proprietor.

Her nervous affection was due to a painful episode in her life.