s morning, Mister McTeague? Something wrong
with the teeth, eh?"

"No, no." McTeague, floundering in the difficulties of his speech,
forgot the carefully rehearsed words with which he had intended to begin
this interview.

"I want to sell you my sign," he said, stupidly. "That big tooth of
French gilt--YOU know--that you made an offer for once."

"Oh, I don't want that now," said the other loftily. "I prefer a little
quiet signboard, nothing pretentious--just the name, and 'Dentist' after
it. These big signs are vulgar. No, I don't want it."

McTeague remained, looking about on the floor, horribly embarrassed, not
knowing whether to go or to stay.

"But I don't know," said the Other Dentist, reflectively. "If it will
help you out any--I guess you're pretty hard up--I'll--well, I tell you
what--I'll give you five dollars for it."

"All right, all right."

On the following Thursday morning McTeague woke to hear the eaves
dripping and the prolonged rattle of the rain upon the roof.

"Raining," he growled, in deep disgust, sitting up in bed, and winking
at the blurred window.

"It's been raining all night," said Trina. She was already up and
dressed, and was cooking breakfast on the oil stove.

McTeague dressed himself, grumbling, "Well, I'll go, anyhow. The fish
will bite all the better for the rain."

"Look here, Mac," said Trina, slicing a bit of bacon as thinly as she
could. "Look here, why don't you bring some of your fish home sometime?"

"Huh!" snorted the dentist, "so's we could have 'em for breakfast. Might
save you a nickel, mightn't it?"

"Well, and if it did! Or you might fish for the market. The fisherman
across the street would buy 'em of you."

"Shut up!" exclaimed the dentist, and Trina obediently subsided.

"Look here," continued her husband, fumbling in his trousers pocket
and bringing out a dollar, "I'm sick and tired of coffee and bacon and
mashed potatoes. Go over to the market and get some kind of meat for
breakfast. Get a steak, or chops, or something.

"Why, Mac, that's a whole dollar, and he only gave you five for your
sign. We can't afford it. Sure, Mac. Let me put that money away against
a rainy day. You're just as well off without meat for breakfast."

"You do as I tell you. Get some steak, or chops, or something."

"Please, Mac, dear."

"Go on, now. I'll bite your fingers again pretty soon."

"But----"

The dentist took a step towards her, snatching at her hand.

"All