ndering. Girls were queer
cattle. Had Mattie given her word to this slab-sided, lanky fellow? Had
she given Sam Sleeny the mitten for him? Perhaps she wanted the glory
of being Mrs. Professor Bott. Well, she could do as she liked; but Saul
swore softly to himself, "If Bott comes to live offen me, he's got to
pay his board."

Meanwhile, the seer was walking, not without some inward perturbation,
to the house, where his fate awaited him. It would have been hard to
find a man more confident and more fatuous; but even such fools as he
have their moments of doubt and faltering when they approach the not
altogether known. He had not entertained the slightest question of
Maud's devotion to him, the night she asked from him the counsel of the
spirits. But he had seen her several times since that, and she had
never renewed the subject. He was in two minds about it. Sometimes he
imagined she might have changed her purpose; and then he would comfort
himself with the more natural supposition that maiden modesty had been
too much for her, and that she was anxiously awaiting his proffer. He
had at last girded up his loins like a man and determined to know his
doom. He had first ascertained the amount of Maud's salary at the
library, and then, as we see, had endeavored to provide for his
subsistence at Saul's expense; and now nothing was wanting but the
maiden's consent. He trembled a little, but it was more with hope than
fear. He could not make himself believe that there was any danger--but
he wished it were over and all were well. He paused as he drew near the
door. He was conscious that his hands were disagreeably cold and moist.
He took out his handkerchief and wiped them, rubbing them briskly
together, though the day was clear and warm, and the perspiration stood
beaded on his forehead. But there was no escape. He knocked at the
door, which was opened by Maud in person, who greeted him with a free
and open kindness that restored his confidence. They sat down together,
and Maud chatted gayly and pleasantly about the weather and the news. A
New York girl, the daughter of a wealthy furrier, was reported in the
newspaper as about to marry the third son of an English earl. Maud
discussed the advantages of the match on either side as if she had been
the friend from childhood of both parties.

Suddenly, while she was talking about the forthcoming wedding, the
thought occurred to Bott, "Mebbe this is a hint for me," and he plunged
int