irst ever since
we came on deck!"

Under the leeway of this pleasantry he bowed and retired. Nelson turned
with determined politeness to the lady. He was sorry that she had come,
she looking to him a very fine lady indeed, with her black silk gown,
her shining black ornaments, and her bright black eyes. She was not
young, but handsome in Nelson's judgment, although of a haughty bearing.
"Maybe she is the principal of the High School," thought he. "Martin has
her for a boarder, and he said she was very particular about her melons
being cold!"

But however formidable a personage, the lady must be entertained.

"I expect you are a resident of the city, ma'am?" said Nelson.

"Yes, I was born here." She smiled, a smile that revealed a little break
in the curve of her cheek, not exactly a dimple, but like one.

"I don't know when I have seen such a fine appearing lady," thought
Nelson. He responded: "Well, I wasn't born here; but I come when I was
a little shaver of ten and stayed till I was eighteen, when I went to
Kansas to help fight the border ruffians. I went to school here in the
Warren Street school-house."

"So did I, as long as I went anywhere to school. I had to go to work
when I was twelve."

Nelson's amazement took shape before his courtesy had a chance to
control it. "I didn't suppose you ever did any work in your life!" cried
he.

"I guess I haven't done much else. Father died when I was twelve and the
oldest of five, the next only eight--Polly, that came between Eb and me,
died--naturally I had to work. I was a nurse-girl by the day, first; and
I never shall forget how kind the woman was to me. She gave me so much
dinner I never needed to eat any breakfast, which was a help."

"You poor little thing! I'm afraid you went hungry sometimes."
Immediately he marvelled at his familiar speech, but she did not seem to
resent it.

"No, not so often," she said, musingly; "but I used often and often
to wish I could carry some of the nice things home to mother and the
babies. After a while she would give me a cookey or a piece of bread
and butter for lunch; that I could take home. I don't suppose I'll often
have more pleasure than I used to have then, seeing little Eb waiting
for sister; and the baby and mother----" She stopped abruptly, to
continue, in an instant, with a kind of laugh; "I am never likely to
feel so important again as I did then, either. It was great to have
mother consulting me, as if I had b