d
we must be getting back and putting a sight on them."

Michael Sunlocks bowed slightly.

"We've lost a good crop by coming," said Jacob, "and made no charge
neither, though it's small thanks you get in this world for doing
what's fair and honest."

"Well?" said Michael Sunlocks.

"She never was good to them that was good to her," said Jacob, "and
we're taking sorrow to see that we're not the only ones that suffer
from her ingratitude."

"Not another word on that head," said Michael Sunlocks. "What do you
want?"

"Want? Well, it isn't so mortal kind to say _want_," said Jacob, with
the look of one whose self-respect had been wounded.

"A man may be poor, but a poor man has got feelings," said Asher.

"Poor or rich, I say again, 'What do you want?'" said Michael
Sunlocks.

"Only to say that we're going to keep this little thing quiet," said
Jacob.

"Aw, quiet, quiet," said the others.

"I must leave that to you," said Michael Sunlocks.

"Aw, and safe, too," said Jacob, "for what for should we be going
disgracing our own sister? It isn't natural, and her the wife of the
President, too."

"Aw, no, no," said the brethren.

"He won't hear a word against her for all," whispered John to Jacob.

"A girl may be a bit wild, and doing sweethearting before she was
married," said Jacob, "but that is no reason why all the world should
be agate of her, poor thing; and what's it saying, 'The first slip is
always forgotten?'"

"Silence," said Michael Sunlocks, sternly. "If this is what you have
come to say, we can cut this meeting short."

"Lord-a-massy," cried Asher. "Is he for showing us the door, too?"

"Who says so?" said Jacob, changing his tone. Then facing about to
Michael Sunlocks, he said, "It wouldn't do to be known that the
President of Iceland had married a bad woman--would it?"

Michael Sunlocks did not reply, and Jacob answered himself: "No, of
course not. So perhaps you'll give me back that letter I lent you
yesterday."

"I haven't got it. It is destroyed," said Michael Sunlocks.

"Destroyed!" cried Jacob.

"Make yourself easy about it," said Michael Sunlocks. "It will do no
more mischief. It's burnt. I burnt it myself."

"Burnt it?" Jacob exclaimed. "Why, do you know, I set great store by
that letter? I wouldn't have lost it for a matter of five hundred
pounds."

Michael Sunlocks could bear no more. In an instant the weary look had
gone from his face. His eyes flashed with anger; he str