So Martha Dence meets me at the door, and says, very stiffly, she thought I might have told her I wanted to see the old church.

I pulled a long, penitent face, and said, 'Yes; but unfortunately, I was out of her good books, and had orders not to speak to her.' 'Nay,' says she, 'life is too short for long quarrels.

You are a stranger, and knew no better.' Then she told me to wait five minutes while she put on her bonnet, as she calls it.

Well, I waited the five and-forty minutes, and she put on her bonnet, and so many other smart things, that we couldn't possibly walk straight up to the old church.

We had to go round by the butcher's shop, and order half a pound of suet; no less.