ved
victuals then, don't you see? I wish't I had now!" he added
reflectively. "I never thought of her cookin' anything special."

* * * * *

"Supper's ready!" sighed Miss Phrony from the doorway.

In the kitchen a cloth, not too clean, was laid, and on it, with much
parade of knife and fork, appeared a very dry knuckle of ham, a plate
of yellow soda biscuit, and a pallid and flabby pie. Spite of himself,
Calvin's cheery face fell as he looked on this banquet; but he sat down,
and attacked the ham-bone manfully.

"How are ye, old feller?" he said. "I certinly thought I'd seen the last
of you, but you come of a long-lived stock, that's plain. Could I have a
drop of tea, Miss Phrony? Seems' though something hot would help this
spread on its downward way. Fire out? Well, never mind! I'll get along."

"I had the spasms come on so bad," said Miss Phrony, "along about eight
o'clock, when I give you up, my stren'th went from me, and I couldn't
heave the wood to keep the fire up. I had coffee for you, but it's cold.
Would you like some?"

"I guess not!" said Calvin, recalling the coffee at breakfast. "I'll do
first-rate. Well! did you try on your tippet, what? real becomin', was
it?"

Miss Phrony's face softened, and she gave him a languishing glance--with
one eye, the other trying to see what it was like, with little success.

"'Tis elegant!" she said. "'Tis the handsomest ever I saw. I've put it
away--for the future!"

"Sho!" said Calvin. "You don't want to do that. You want to wear it to
meetin' next Sunday, Miss Phrony. Any one oughtn't to wait too long to
look handsome, you know, fear they mightn't get round to it."

"Oh! not _next_ Sunday, Cap'n Parks!" cried Miss Phrony, with another
languishing glance. "That is _too_ suddin! The Sunday after, p'raps, if
you will have it so."

"Just as you say!" said Calvin, struggling with a specially dry chip of
ham. "The sooner the better, Miss Phrony, if things is as you said."

"Have some pie!" cried the lady with sudden tenderness. "Do! I made it
o' purpose for you, Cap'n!"

"Did!" said Calvin, and he eyed the pie gravely. "Well, just a leetle
portion, Miss Phrony! I made a hearty dinner, and--mince, is it, or--or
what?" he added, after the first mouthful. "I don't seem to recognize
the flavor."

"It's Pie-fillene!" said Miss Phrony complacently. "I got a sample
package when I was over to the Corners, and I saved it for you."

"Now that was real th