Mr。Sharon，theminister，enteredandshookhandswiththeJudgeandMrs。BaxterandwithMrs。HobbsandMary-’Gusta。Healsopattedthechild’shand。Mrs。Hobbswhisperedtohim，withevidentpride，thatitwas“goin’tobeoneofthebiggestfuneralsevergiveninOstable。“Mr。Sharonnodded。Then，afterwaitingamomentortwo，hetiptoedalongthefronthallandtookuphisstandbytheparlordoor。Therewasafinalrustleofgowns，afinalcrackleofSundayshirtfronts，andthenahushedsilence。
Thesilencewasbrokenbytherattleofwheelsintheyard。Mr。
Hallettatthedoorheldupawarninghand。Amomentlaterheusheredtwopeopleinatthefrontdoorandledthemthroughtheparlorintothe“bigsettin’-room。“Mary-’Gustacouldseethelatecomersplainly。Theywerebothmen，onebigandred-facedandbearded，theothersmall，andthin，andwhite-haired。Arustlepassedthroughthecrowdandeveryoneturnedtolook。Somelookedasiftheyrecognizedthepair，buttheydidnotbow；evidentlyitwasnotpropertobowatfunerals。
Mr。Hallett，ontiptoe，ofcourse，glidedintothelittleroomfromthebigoneandlookedabouthim。Then，totheabsolutestupefactionofMary-’Gusta，hetooktherush-seatedchairinonehandandthemusicchairintheotherandtiptoedout。Heplacedthetwochairsinthebackrowclosetothedoorofthesmallerroomandmotionedtothetwomentosit。
Mary-’Gustacouldstanditnolonger。ShewasafraidofMrs。Hobbs，afraidofMr。Hallett，afraidoftheBaxtersandallthestaringcrowd；butshewasmoreafraidofwhatwasgoingtohappen。Shetuggedatthehousekeeper’ssleeve。