“There’s Daisy and Hat Sears, and—­and there’s Nell White and Eaat Ryoce in the team behind,” Eva said.

“I should think they better be savin’ their money if Lloyd’s has shut up,” said Mrs. Zelotes, severely.

“We ain’t savin’ ours, or Andrew ain’t,” Eva retorted, with a laugh.

“It’s different with us,” said Mrs. Zelotes, proudly, “though I shouldn’t think it was right for Andrew to hire a team every day.”

“Sometimes I think folks might just as well have a little as they’re goin’ along, for half the time they never seem to get there,” Eva said, with another hard laugh at her own wit; and just then she saw something which made her turn deathly white, and catch her breath with a gasp in spite of herself, though that was all.  She held up her head like a queen and turned her handsome white face full towards Jim Tenny and the girl for whom he had jilted her before, as they drove past, and bowed and smiled in a fashion which made the red flame up over the young man’s swarthy cheek, and the pretty girl at his side shrink a little and avert her tousled fair head with a nervous giggle.

Mrs. Zelotes Brewster twisted herself about and looked after them.  “There’s John Tibbets and his wife in that sleigh; he’s thrown out of work as well as you, Andrew,” said Fanny, hastily.  “See that feather in her bonnet blow; it’s standin’ up straight.”  But Fanny’s manoeuvre to turn the attention of her mother-in-law was of no avail, for nothing short of sudden death could interpose an effectual barrier between Mrs. Zelotes Brewster’s tongue and mind set with the purpose of speech.  “Was that the Tinny fellow?” she demanded.

“Yes; I guess so.  I didn’t notice in particular,” Fanny replied, in a low voice.  Then she added, pointing to an advancing sleigh.  “Good land, there’s that Smith girl.  They said she wasn’t able to ride out.  Seems to me she’s taken a queer day for it.”

“Was that that Tinny fellow?” Mrs. Zelotes asked again.  She leaned forward and gave Eva a hard nudge on her red-coated elbow.

“Yes, it was,” Eva answered, calmly.

“Who was that girl with him?”

“It was Aggie Bemis.”

Mrs. Zelotes gave a sniff, then she settled back, studying Eva’s back with a sort of reflective curiosity.  Presently she fumbled under the sleigh cushion for an extra shawl which she had brought, and handed it up to Eva.  “Don’t you want this extra shawl?” she asked, while Fanny stared at her wonderingly.  Mrs. Zelotes’s civilities towards her sister had been few and far between.

“No, thank you,” Eva replied, with a start.

“Hadn’t you better?  It must be pretty cold sitting up there.  You must take all the wind.  You can wrap this shawl all around your face and ears, and I don’t want it.”

“No, thank you; I’m plenty warm,” Eva replied.  She swallowed hard, and set her mouth hard.  There was something about this kindness of her old disapprover which touched her deeply, and moved her to weakness more than had the sight of her recreant love with another girl.  Fanny saw the little quiver pass over her sister’s face, and leaned over and whispered.