d and meachin'. I was wonderin' if
you couldn't shove some sense into her, Abby. Now, I'd like th' job
of furnishin' up that house with new stuff. 'I don't carry a very big
stock of furniture,' I sez to her; but--"

"Why, Hen-ery Daggett!" reproved his wife, "an' you a reg'lar
professing member of the church! You ain't never carried no stock of
furniture in the store, and you know it."

"That ain't no sign I ain't never goin' to, Abby," retorted Mr.
Daggett with spirit. "We been stuck right down in the mud here in
Brookville since that dratted bank failed. Nobody's moved, except to
the graveyard. And here comes along a young woman with money ... I'd
like mighty well to know just how much she's got an' where it come
from. I asked the Judge, and he says, blamed if he knows.... But this
'ere young female spells op-per-tunity, Abby. We got to take
advantage of the situation, Abby, same as you do in blackberrying
season: pick 'em when they're ripe; if you don't, the birds and the
bugs'll get 'em."

"It don't sound right to me, papa," murmured his wife, her kind face
full of soft distress: "Taking advantage of a poor young thing, like
her, an' all in mourning, too, fer a near friend. She told Lois so
... Dear, dear!"

Mr. Daggett had filled his morning pipe and was puffing energetically
in his efforts to make it draw.

"I didn't _say_ take advantage of _her_," he objected. "That's
somethin' I never done yet in my business, Abby. Th' Lord knows I
don't sand my sugar nor water my vinegar, the way some storekeepers
do. I'm all for 'live an' let live.' What I says was--... Now, you
pay attention to me, Abby, and quit sniffling. You're a good woman;
but you're about as soft as that there butter! ..."

The article in question had melted to a yellow pool under the heat.
Mrs. Daggett gazed at it with wide blue eyes, like those of a child.

"Why, Henry," she protested, "I never heerd you talk so before."

"And likely you won't again. Now you listen, Abby; all I want, is to
do what honest business I can with this young woman. She's bound to
spend her money, and she's kind of took to me; comes into th' store
after her mail, and hangs around and buys the greatest lot o' stuff--
'Land!' I says to her: 'a body'd think you was getting ready to get
married.'"

"Well, now I shouldn't wonder--" began Mrs. Daggett eagerly.

"Don't you get excited, Abby. She says she ain't; real pointed, too.
But about this wall paper; I don't know