COMMUTER'S WIFE 81 



en masse, fortified by a fine new gown and Evan to 

 share both admiration and criticism. Not that we 

 exactly enjoy this sort of thing. We should much 

 prefer saving up and giving them a musical after- 

 noon, Evan even perhaps being coaxed to play the 

 violin himself. But when you wish to entertain 

 people, you must give them what they, not what 

 you like, and what that is remains to be discovered. 

 However, this festival is still before me, while the 

 questions and advice have set me to thinking and 

 make me quite reconciled to spending this rainy 

 day in the comfortable fastness of the attic. 



Before I went away Aunt Lot represented the 

 family, but now one and all, patients and neigh- 

 bours, recognize me as mistress of the house, 

 and are prepared to hold me socially responsible. 

 This is a great change for the young person who, 

 three years ago, never could be prevailed upon to 

 take a table at the annual fair or to make cake 

 for the monthly sale upon the proceeds of which 

 the subsistence of one of the three village ministers 

 depended. 



I have been freely reminded of what a good cake 

 maker Aunt Lot was, and I'm trembling lest Martha 

 Corkle's confections should fall below her standard, 

 as I've promised three loaves, a pan of cookies, 



