sed him
greatly. He had had no idea that there was a library here.

"I declare!" said he. "It must be very pleasant to manage a
circulating library--a small one like this, I mean. I shouldn't mind
going into a business of the kind myself."

The old lady looked up, surprised. Did he wish to go into business?
She had not supposed that, just from looking at him.

Mr. Tolman explained his views to her. He did not tell what he had
been doing in the way of business, or what Mr. Canterfield was doing
for him now. He merely stated his present wishes, and acknowledged to
her that it was the attractiveness of her establishment that had led
him to come in.

"Then you do not want the penknife?" she said quickly.

"Oh, yes, I do," said he. "And I really believe, if we can come to
terms, that I would like the two other knives, together with the rest
of your stock in trade."

The old lady laughed a little nervously. She hoped very much indeed
that they could come to terms. She brought a chair from the back room,
and Mr. Tolman sat down with her by the stove to talk it over. Few
customers came in to interrupt them, and they talked the matter over
very thoroughly. They both came to the conclusion that there would be
no difficulty about terms, nor about Mr. Tolman's ability to carry on
the business after a very little instruction from the present
proprietress. When Mr. Tolman left, it was with the understanding that
he was to call again in a couple of days, when the son Henry would be
at home, and matters could be definitely arranged.

When the three met, the bargain was soon struck. As each party was so
desirous of making it, few difficulties were interposed. The old lady,
indeed, was in favor of some delay in the transfer of the
establishment, as she would like to clean and dust every shelf and
corner and every article in the place. But Mr. Tolman was in a hurry
to take possession; and as the son Henry would have to start off on
another trip in a short time, he wanted to see his mother moved and
settled before he left. There was not much to move but trunks and
bandboxes, and some antiquated pieces of furniture of special value to
the old lady, for Mr. Tolman insisted on buying everything in the
house, just as it stood. The whole thing did not cost him, he said to
himself, as much as some of his acquaintances would pay for a horse.
The methodical son Henry took an account of stock, and Mr. Tolman took
several l