e experience of staying here a
while."

"I have already told you that it will not be convenient for you to stay
here. Colonel Ross will pay your fare back to Illinois, and that, I am
sure, is quite as much as he ought to do."

"Lucindy," said Uncle Obed, "you seem to have forgotten the years I
freely helped you and your poor mother. However, if you don't care to
remember them, I won't refer to them."

Mrs. Ross had the grace to be ashamed, but was not moved in her
resolution to get rid of her uncle.

"Of course," she said, "I don't forget the past. We will help pay your
board in some town at a distance."

"Why at a distance?"

"Because, if you were here, people might think it strange you didn't
stay with us, and my health won't admit that."

"I'm much obliged for your offer, Lucindy, but I prefer to make my own
arrangements. I am going to stay here."

"Then we shall not assist you," said Mrs. Ross, angrily.

"I don't wish you to. I can manage to pay my board, and I have already
selected a boarding place."

"Where do you expect to board?" asked Mrs. Ross, curiously.

"I'll tell you when it's settled."

The next day Uncle Obed informed his niece that he was to board with
Mrs. Gilbert. This was unwelcome news, because it would be a help to a
family she disliked; but Uncle Obed was proof against any insinuations
she was able to bring against Harry and his mother, and the day after he
transferred himself to the clean and airy chamber in Mrs. Gilbert's
cottage.

"This will just suit me," said the old man, looking about him with a
pleased expression. "I like this room much better than the one my niece
gave me."

"Our house won't compare with hers, Mr. Wilkins," said the widow.

"It ain't so fine, but she put me in a little seven-by-nine chamber, and
I was always used to plenty of room."

"I am afraid our living will be too plain for you," suggested Mrs.
Gilbert, apprehensively.

"Do I look as if I was used to high living?" asked Uncle Obed. "No;
whatever's good enough for you and Harry is good enough for me. And now
it's best to agree about terms, so that we may know just how we stand."

This was rather embarrassing to the widow. Uncle Obed certainly did not
look as if he could pay much, yet it would not do to charge too little.
She would not be able to provide her table.

"Would four dollars suit you?" she asked, in a hesitating way.

"No, it wouldn't," said the old man.

"I don't see how I can aff