.

"Thank you," said Carl.

"What am I to call you?" asked Hannah.

"Carl Crawford."

"That's a strange name."

"It is not common, I believe."

"You two will get acquainted by and by," said Mr. Jennings. "The most
interesting question at present is, when will dinner be ready?"

"In ten minutes," answered Hannah, promptly.

"Carl and I are both famished. We have had considerable exercise,"
here he nodded at Carl with a comical look, and Carl understood that he
referred in part to his contest with the tramp.

Hannah disappeared into the kitchen, and Mr. Jennings said: "Come
upstairs, Carl. I will show you your room."

Up an old-fashioned stairway Carl followed his host, and the latter
opened the door of a side room on the first landing. It was not large,
but was neat and comfortable. There was a cottage bedstead, a washstand,
a small bureau and a couple of chairs.

"I hope you will come to feel at home here," said Mr. Jennings, kindly.

"Thank you, sir. I am sure I shall," Carl responded, gratefully.

"There are some nails to hang your clothing on," went on Mr. Jennings,
and then he stopped short, for it was clear that Carl's small gripsack
could not contain an extra suit, and he felt delicate at calling up in
the boy's mind the thought of his poverty.

"Thank you, sir," said Carl. "I left my trunk at the house of a friend,
and if you should succeed in finding me a place, I will send for it."

"That is well!" returned Mr. Jennings, looking relieved. "Now I will
leave you for a few moments. You will find water and towels, in case you
wish to wash before dinner."

Carl was glad of the opportunity. He was particular about his personal
appearance, and he felt hot and dusty. He bathed his face and hands,
carefully dusted his suit, brushed his hair, and was ready to descend
when he heard the tinkling of a small bell at the foot of the front
stairs.

He readily found his way into the neat dining-room at the rear of the
parlor. Mr. Jennings sat at the head of the table, a little giant,
diminutive in stature, but with broad shoulders, a large head, and a
powerful frame. Opposite him sat Hannah, tall, stiff and upright as a
grenadier. She formed a strange contrast to her employer.

"I wonder what made him hire such a tall woman?" thought Carl. "Being so
small himself, her size makes him look smaller."

There was a chair at one side, placed for Carl.

"Sit down there, Carl," said Mr. Jennings. "I won't keep