“Shelldrake,” continued Mr. Billings, without noticing this by-play, “was a man of more pretence than real cultivation, as I afterwards discovered.  He was in good circumstances, and always glad to receive us at his house, as this made him, virtually, the chief of our tribe, and the outlay for refreshments involved only the apples from his own orchard and water from his well.  There was an entire absence of conventionality at our meetings, and this, compared with the somewhat stiff society of the village, was really an attraction.  There was a mystic bond of union in our ideas:  we discussed life, love, religion, and the future state, not only with the utmost candor, but with a warmth of feeling which, in many of us, was genuine.  Even I (and you know how painfully shy and bashful I was) felt myself more at home there than in my father’s house; and if I didn’t talk much, I had a pleasant feeling of being in harmony with those who did.

“Well, ’twas in the early part of ’45,—­I think in April,—­when we were all gathered together, discussing, as usual, the possibility of leading a life in accordance with Nature.  Abel Mallory was there, and Hollins, and Miss Ringtop, and Faith Levis, with her knitting,—­and also Eunice Hazleton, a lady whom you have never seen, but you may take my wife as her representative”——­

“Stick to the programme, Enos,” interrupted Mrs. Billings.

“Eunice Hazleton, then.  I wish I could recollect some of the speeches made on that occasion.  Abel had but one pimple on his temple, (there was a purple spot where the other had been,) and was estimating that in two or three months more he would be a true, unspoiled man.  His complexion, nevertheless, was more clammy and whey-like than ever.

“‘Yes,’ said he, ’I also am an Arcadian!  This false dual existence which I have been leading will soon be merged in the unity of Nature.  Our lives must conform to her sacred law.  Why can’t we strip off these hollow Shams,’ (he made great use of that word,) ’and be our true selves, pure, perfect, and divine?’

“Miss Ringtop heaved a sigh, and repeated a stanza from her favorite poet:—­

  “’Ah, when wrecked are my desires
    On the everlasting Never,
  And my heart with all its fires
    Out forever,
  In the cradle of Creation
  Finds the soul resuscitation!’

“Shelldrake, however, turning to his wife, said,—­

“’Elviry, how many up-stairs rooms is there in that house down on the Sound?’

“’Four,—­besides three small ones under the roof.  Why, what made you think of that, Jesse?’ said she.

“‘I’ve got an idea, while Abel’s been talking,’ he answered.  ’We’ve taken a house for the summer, down the other side of Bridgeport, right on the water, where there’s good fishing and a fine view of the Sound.  Now, there’s room enough for all of us,—­at least, all that can make it suit to go.  Abel, you and Enos, and Pauline and Eunice might fix matters