e sheltered many.

Then he also rose, but so languidly that "Alfy" stared, and, glancing
toward his still full plate, inquired: "You sick?"

"No, I ain't. I'm m-m-mad!"

"At me?"

"N-no. Y-y-yes. You're another of 'em. She's a g-g-girl. I've got to go
s-s-s-see her! Just a p-p-plain girl!"

The infinite scorn with which this reply was hurled at her touched
Alfaretta's pride. Was she not, also, a girl? Said she, with intent to
"get even" for some of his former toplofty remarks: "Oh! I thought you
was goin' fishin' with Uncle Mose. I saw Bob Turner go past, quite a
spell ago, and he was whistlin' like lightnin'. And I heard you say,
more'n once, 't _you_ 'hadn't no man to boss you--you could do as you
pleased."

"So I can when--when g-g-gr-gramma ain't r-r-round," replied he, so
meekly that Alfaretta relented. She had been intending to add the
contents of Monty's plate to the less appetizing portion set out for
herself, but now determined to put aside for a future luncheon whatever
he had left. Food was never overabundant at the Madam's, and Alfaretta
made it her business that none of what there was should ever go to
waste.

"Never mind, Monty. To-morrow ain't touched yet, an' there'll always be
fish in the pool," comforted the little maid with real sympathy, for,
despite the fact that he teased her continually, she loved him
sincerely.

But he merely banged the door behind him as he departed to his toilet,
feeling himself the most abused of mortals. For if there was anything
which this "last of the Sturtevants" hated worse than paying a visit it
was taking a cold bath in a tub, an ordinary wooden wash-tub! To have
both bath and visit imposed upon him in one fell hour, was an
undreamed-of calamity.

Therefore, it was a very different appearing youth from his ordinary
merry self who was presented to Katharine in Miss Eunice's lamp-lighted
sitting-room an hour later. In outward matters, also, a vastly improved
one, since his rough denim blouse and overalls had been exchanged for a
fairly modern suit, thoughtfully supplied him by wealthier relatives;
his tangle of close-cropped curls brushed smooth, and his face freed
from all spots save freckles.

"Katharine, you may take Montgomery over to that little table where the
photograph albums are, and show them to him. You and he should be good
friends, as all the Sturtevants and Maitlands have been for generations
before you," said Miss Eunice, after the presentatio