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“Very well, we will see how far that statement is correct,” said Mrs. Comegys. “Did she mention the subject to you, Mrs. Raynor?”

“She did,” replied Mrs. Raynor. “But in strict confidence, and enjoining it upon me not to mention it to any one, as she had no wish to injure you.”

“Did you tell it to any one?”

“No. It was but a little while afterward that it was told to me by some one else.”

“Was it mentioned to you, Mrs. Florence?” proceeded Mrs. Comegys, turning to another of the ladies present.

“It was, ma’am.”

“By Mrs. Grimes?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“In confidence, I suppose?”

“I was requested to say nothing about it, for fear that it might create an unfavorable impression in regard to you.”

“Very well; there are two already. How was it in your case, Mrs. Wheeler?”

This lady answered as the others had done. The question was then put to each lady in the room, when it appeared that out of the twenty, fifteen had received their information on the subject from Mrs. Grimes, and that upon every one secrecy had been enjoined, although not in every case maintained.

“So it seems, Mrs. Markle,” said Mrs. Comegys, after she had finished her inquiries, “that Mrs. Grimes has, as I alleged, industriously circulated this matter to my injury.”

“It certainly appears so,” returned Mrs. Markle, coldly.

Thus brought into a corner, Mrs. Grimes bristled up like certain animals, which are good at running and skulking, but which, when fairly trapped, fight desperately.

“Telling it to a thousand is not half as bad as doing it, Mrs. Comegys,” she said, angrily. “You needn’t try to screen yourself from the consequences of your wrong doings, by raising a hue and cry against me. Go to the fact, madam! Go to the fact, and stand alongside of what you have done.”

“I have no hesitation about doing that, Mrs. Grimes. Pray, what have I done?”

“It is very strange that you should ask, madam.”

“But I am charged, I learn, with having committed a crime against society; and you are the author of the charge. What is the crime?”

“If it is any satisfaction to you, I will tell you. I was at your house when the pattern of the lawn dress you now have on was sent home. You measured it in my presence, and there were several yards in it more than you had bought and paid for”–

“How many?”

Mrs. Grimes looked confused, and stammered out, “I do not now exactly remember.”

“How many did she tell you, Mrs. Raynor?”

“She said there were three yards.”

“And you, Mrs. Fisher?”

“Six yards.”

“And you, Mrs. Florence?”

“Fifteen yards, I think.”

“Oh, no, Mrs. Florence; you are entirely mistaken. You misunderstood me,” said Mrs. Grimes, in extreme perturbation.

“Perhaps so. But that is my present impression,” replied Mrs. Florence.

“That will do,” said Mrs. Comegys. “Mrs. Grimes can now go on with her answer to my inquiry. I will remark, however, that the overplus was just two yards.”

“Then you admit that the lawn overran what you had paid for?”

“Certainly I do. It overran just two yards.”

“Very well. One yard or a dozen, the principle is just the same. I asked you what you meant to do with it, and you replied, ‘keep it, of course.’ Do you deny that?”

“No. It is very likely that I did say so, for it was my intention to keep it.”

“Without paying for it?” asked Mrs. Markle.

Mrs. Comegys looked steadily into the face of her interrogator for some moments, a flush upon her cheek, an indignant light in her eye. Then, without replying to the question, she stepped to the wall and rang the parlor bell. In a few moments a servant came in.

“Ask the gentleman in the dining-room if he will be kind enough to step here.” In a little while a step was heard along the passage, and then a young man entered.

“You are a clerk in Mr. Perkins’ store?” said Mrs. Comegys.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You remember my buying this lawn dress at your store?”