hake this hopeless man. Hopewell, indeed! His name surely
did not fit him in the least. Wasn't old Mrs. Scattergood almost right
when she called him "a gump"? At least, if "gump" meant a spineless
creature?

Drugg was looking languidly about the store in the dim, brown light.
Outside the rain still fell heavily. Occasionally the clouds would
lighten for a moment as they frequently do in the hills; but the rain
was still behind them and _would_ burst through.

"Come, Mr. Drugg," said Janice, more softly. "Let me show you what I
mean. You can't really expect folks to come here and trade when they can
scarcely see through the windows----"

"Yes, yes," he murmured. "I _had_ ought to clean up a bit."

"More than that!" she cried. "You want to have a regular
overhauling--take account of stock, and all that--know what you've
got--arrange your goods attractively--get rid of the flies--put on fresh
paint----"

He was looking at her with wide-open eyes. "My soul!" he breathed.
"How'd I ever git around to doin' all _that_?"

"You love little Lottie, don't you?" Janice demanded, with sudden
cruelty. "I should think you'd be willing to do something for her!"

"What do you mean?" and a little snap, which delighted Janice, suddenly
came into Drugg's tone.

"Just what I say, Mr. Drugg. You _speak_ as though you loved her."

"And who says I don't?"

"Your actions."

"My actions? What do you mean by that?" and the man flushed more deeply
than before.

"I mean if you truly loved her, and longed to get her to Boston and to
the surgeons, and the school there, it seems to me you'd be willing to
work hard to that end."

"You show me--" he began, wrathfully, but she interrupted with:

"Now, wait! Let me have my way for an hour here, will you? I want you to
go back to Lottie and do up the housework; I see your breakfast dishes
are still unwashed. Leave me alone here and let me do as I like for an
hour."

"You mean to clean up?" he asked, gazing about the store hopelessly.

"Something like that. It rains so hard I can't get to school. I'll visit
with you, Mr. Drugg," said Janice smiling and her voice cheerful again.
"And instead of helping about the housework, I'll help in the store.
_Do_ let me, sir!"

"Why--yes--I don't mind. I guess you mean right enough, Miss Janice. But
you don't understand----"

"Give me an hour," she cried.

"Why, yes, Miss," he said, in his old, gentle, polite way. "If you want
to mess about I w