them things I spoke to you about, Mrs. Church, we shall be all right."

"Who is it?" enquired the nephew, as soon as she had gone.

Captain Barber looked stealthily round, and, for the second time that
evening, winked at his nephew.

"A visitor?" said Flower.

Captain Barber winked again, and then laughed into his pipe until it
gurgled.

"It's a little plan o' mine." he said, when he had become a little more
composed. "She's my housekeeper."

"Housekeeper?" repeated the astonished Flower.

"Bein' all alone here," said Uncle Barber, "I think a lot. I sit an'
think until I get an idea. It comes quite sudden like, and I wonder I
never thought of it before."

"But what did you want a housekeeper for?" enquired his nephew. "Where's
Lizzie?"

"I got rid of her," said Captain Barber. "I got a housekeeper because I
thought it was time you got married. Now do you see?"

"No," said Flower, shortly.

Captain Barber laughed softly and, relighting his pipe which had gone
out, leaned back in his chair and again winked at his indignant nephew.

"Mrs. Banks," he said, suggestively.

His nephew gazed at him blankly.

Captain Barber, sighing good-naturedly at his dulness, turned his chair
a bit and explained the situation.

"Mrs. Banks won't let you and Elizabeth marry till she's gone," said he.

His nephew nodded.

"I've been at her ever so long," said the other, "but she's firm. Now
I'm trying artfulness. I've got a good-looking housekeeper--she's the
pick o' seventeen what all come here Wednesday morning--and I'm making
love to her."

"Making love to her," shouted his nephew, gazing wildly at the venerable
bald head with the smoking-cap resting on one huge ear.

"Making love to her," repeated Captain Barber, with a satisfied air.
"What'll happen? Mrs. Banks, to prevent me getting married, as she
thinks, will give her consent to you an' Elizabeth getting tied up."

"Haven't you ever heard of breach of promise cases?" asked his nephew,
aghast.

"There's no fear o' that," said Captain Barber, confidently. "It's all
right with Mrs. Church she's a widder. A widder ain't like a young girl
she knows you don't mean anything."

It was useless to argue with such stupendous folly; Captain Flower tried
another tack.

"And suppose Mrs. Church gets fond of you," he said, gravely. "It
doesn't seem right to trifle with a woman's affections like that."

"I won't go too far," said the lady-killer in the smoking-cap,
rea