We wretched occupants of the King pew were concerned only with our own outraged feelings . `` And there 's Melita Ross , '' went on Peg . `` She 's got the same bonnet on she had last time I was in Carlisle church six years ago . Some folks has the knack of making things last . But look at the style Mrs. Elmer Brewer wears , will yez ? Yez would n't think her mother died in the poor-house , would yez , now ? '' Poor Mrs. Brewer ! From the tip of her smart kid shoes to the dainty cluster of ostrich tips in her bonnet -- she was most immaculately and handsomely arrayed ; but I venture to think she could have taken small pleasure in her fashionable attire that evening . Some of the unregenerate , including Dan , were shaking with suppressed laughter , but most of the people looked as if they were afraid to smile , lest their turn should come next . `` There 's old Stephen Grant coming in , '' exclaimed Peg viciously , shaking her floury fist at him , `` and looking as if butter would n't melt in his mouth . He may be an elder , but he 's a scoundrel just the same . He set fire to his house to get the insurance and then blamed ME for doing it . But I got even with him for it . Oh , yes ! He knows that , and so do I ! He , he ! '' Peg chuckled quite fiendishly and Stephen Grant tried to look as if nothing had been said . `` Oh , will the minister never come ? '' moaned Felicity in my ear . `` Surely she 'll have to stop then . ''
But the minister did not come and XXXXX had no intention of stopping .
Brewer Carlisle Dan Grant Peg Ross evening fire pew poor-house