not do save behind the lady's back.

"We hain't got no drawin'-room here, an' Eunice ain't seein' no more
folks to-day, not if I can help it. I'm sure she won't see no men folks,
anyway. We've been overrun with them, a'ready, just 'cause Moses has
broke his leg and a few his ribs. Accidents happen to anybody if they're
keerless, an' he admits he was. But he's as comfortable as can be
expected, thank ye, and good day."

"But, Susanna, not so fast. I came to offer my services in regard to
this--er--gold mine which the little Baltimore girl has discovered."

"W-h-a-t?" gasped the widow in utter amazement. Had the man taken leave
of his senses?

"The gold mine, or--or hidden treasure--or casket of diamonds,--reports
vary; yet all agree in the fact that extraordinary wealth has been
unearthed in the old Maitland woods. Of course, Eunice being unused to
the management of large affairs and only a woman--a woman--she would
appreciate the help of an experienced man. I trust my advice may prove
of benefit to her."

The Widow Sprigg listened with an attention that would have been
flattering had not her face evinced her incredulity. As it was, she
stood for a brief time, staring over her spectacles at the big man, as
if gazing at some curiosity, then she laughed, scornfully:

"Why, Squire, upon my word I'm sorry for ye! Though I don't know who
'twas 'at made a fool of ye, but fool you have been made, and no
mistake. Such a balderdash as that! Why, man alive, don't you s'pose if
anything worth findin' had been found on Eunice's property she'd ha'
told me the first one? An' me an' her livin' like sisters, so to speak,
even sence I growed up, savin' the spell whilst Mr. Sprigg, he was
alive. Two years I spent in my own house 't Mr. Sprigg he built, on his
own piece of woodland 'j'inin' hers, and she buyin' it off me soon's he
departed. The prettiest little house in the hull township, 'tis, too,
an' where I 'xpect to end my days if I outlive her, which I hope I
won't. An' her needin' business 'advice,' indeed! When there ain't a man
in Marsden, let alone all the women, can hold a candle to her for
gumption an' clear-headedness. An' her sayin' to me then, 'Susanna, it
will do you more good to sell to me an' put your money out to int'rest
'an to have a lot of wuthless land on your hands, an' you shall keep the
little cottage for your own as long as you live.' So we done it, an' she
paid me more'n the market price; an' has left me