Then she doubtfully plunged into the exception ... a column of `` Stage Notes . '' Halfway down she came upon an adverse criticism of Joscelyn Morgan and her new play . It was malicious and vituperative . Deborah Morgan 's old eyes sparkled dangerously as she read it . `` I guess somebody is pretty jealous of Josie , '' she muttered . `` I do n't wonder Pa was riled up . But I guess she can hold her own . She 's a Morgan . '' No long time after this Cyrus took a notion he 'd like a trip to the city . He 'd like to see the Horse Fair and look up Cousin Hiram Morgan 's folks . `` Hiram and me used to be great chums , Mother . And we 're getting kind of mossy , I guess , never stirring out of Spring Valley . Let 's go and dissipate for a week -- what say ? '' Deborah agreed readily , albeit of late years she had been much averse to going far from home and had never at any time been very fond of Cousin Hiram 's wife . Cyrus was as pleased as a child over their trip . On the second day of their sojourn in the city he slipped away when Deborah had gone shopping with Mrs. Hiram and hurried through the streets to the Green Square Theatre with a hang-dog look . He bought a ticket apologetically and sneaked in to his seat . It was a matinee performance , and Joscelyn Morgan was starring in her famous new play . Cyrus waited for the curtain to rise , feeling as if every one of his Spring Valley neighbours must know where he was and revile him for it . If Deborah were ever to find out ... but Deborah must never find out !
For the first XXXXX in their married life the old man deliberately plotted to deceive his old wife .
Hiram criticism eyes home neighbours notion play sojourn time trip