s his letter," said David, handing it across the table. "Read it
out 'loud."

"You read it," she said, passing it back after a search in her pocket;
"I must 'a' left my specs in the settin'-room."

The letter was as follows:

"DEAR SIR: I take the liberty of addressing you at the
instance of General Wolsey, who spoke to me of the matter of your
communication to him, and was kind enough to say that he would
write you in my behalf. My acquaintance with him has been in the
nature of a social rather than a business one, and I fancy that he
can only recommend me on general grounds. I will say, therefore,
that I have had some experience with accounts, but not much
practice in them for nearly three years. Nevertheless, unless the
work you wish done is of an intricate nature, I think I shall be
able to accomplish it with such posting at the outset as most
strangers would require. General Wolsey told me that you wanted
some one as soon as possible. I have nothing to prevent me from
starting at once if you desire to have me. A telegram addressed to
me at the office of the Trust Company will reach me promptly.

"Yours very truly,

"JOHN K. LENOX."

"Wa'al," said David, looking over his glasses at his sister, "what do
you think on't?"

"The' ain't much brag in't," she replied thoughtfully.

"No," said David, putting his eyeglasses back in their case, "th' ain't
no brag ner no promises; he don't even say he'll do his best, like most
fellers would. He seems to have took it fer granted that I'll take it
fer granted, an' that's what I like about it. Wa'al," he added, "the
thing's done, an' I'll be lookin' fer him to-morrow mornin' or evenin'
at latest."

Mrs. Bixbee sat for a moment with her large, light blue, and rather
prominent eyes fixed on her brother's face, and then she said, with a
slight undertone of anxiety, "Was you cal'latin' to have that young man
from New York come here?"

"I hadn't no such idee," he replied, with a slight smile, aware of what
was passing in her mind. "What put that in your head?"

"Wa'al," she answered, "you know the' ain't scarcely anybody in the
village that takes boarders in the winter, an' I was wonderin' what he
would do."

"I s'pose he'll go to the Eagle," said David. "I dunno where else,
'nless it's to the Lake House."

"The Eagil!" she exclaimed