Alas, I have neither the skill nor the scalpel to show the diseases of Mr. Hopper’s mind; if, indeed, he had any.  Conscience, when contracted, is just as troublesome as croup.  Mr. Hopper was thoroughly healthy.  He had ambition, as I have said.  But he was not morbidly sensitive.  He was calm enough when he got back to the boarding-house, which he found in as high a pitch of excitement as New Englanders ever reach.

And over what?

Over the prospective arrival that evening of the Brices, mother and son, from Boston.  Miss Crane had received the message in the morning.  Palpitating with the news; she had hurried rustling to Mrs. Abner Reed, with the paper in her hand.

“I guess you don’t mean Mrs. Appleton Brice,” said Mrs. Reed.

“That’s just who I mean,” answered Miss Crane, triumphantly,—­nay, aggressively.

Mrs. Abner shook her curls in a way that made people overwhelm her with proofs.

“Mirandy, you’re cracked,” said she.  “Ain’t you never been to Boston?”

Miss Crane bridled.  This was an uncalled-for insult.

“I guess I visited down Boston-way oftener than you, Eliza Reed.  You never had any clothes.”

Mrs. Reed’s strength was her imperturbability.

“And you never set eyes on the Brice house, opposite the Common, with the swelled front?  I’d like to find out where you were a-visitin’.  And you’ve never heard tell of the Brice homestead, at Westbury, that was Colonel Wilton Brice’s, who fought in the Revolution?  I’m astonished at you, Mirandy.  When I used to be at the Dales’, in Mount Vernon Street, in thirty-seven, Mrs. Charles Atterbury Brice used to come there in her carriage, a-callin’.  She was Appleton’s mother.  Severe!  Save us,” exclaimed Mrs. Reed, “but she was stiff as starched crepe.  His father was minister to France.  The Brices were in the India trade, and they had money enough to buy the whole of St. Louis.”

Miss Crane rattled the letter in her hand.  She brought forth her reserves.

“Yes, and Appleton Brice lost it all, in the panic.  And then he died, and left the widow and son without a cent.”

Mrs. Reed took off her spectacles.

“I want to know!” she exclaimed.  “The durned fool!  Well, Appleton Brice didn’t have the family brains, ands he was kind of soft-hearted.  I’ve heard Mehitabel Dale say that.”  She paused to reflect.  “So they’re coming here?” she added.  “I wonder why.”

Miss Crane’s triumph was not over.

“Because Silas Whipple was some kin to Appleton Brice, and he has offered the boy a place in his law office.”

Miss Reed laid down her knitting.

“Save us!” she said.  “This is a day of wonders, Mirandy.  Now Lord help the boy if he’s gain’ to work for the Judge.”

“The Judge has a soft heart, if he is crabbed,” declared the spinster.  “I’ve heard say of a good bit of charity he’s done.  He’s a soft heart.”