man went on, "and bought her
a bunnet. Where she got the money I don't know, nor Jinny didn't. I
guess she nor the old woman ever spent more than fifty cents at a time
in their lives before; but she got a ten dollar bunnet, no two ways
about that; and she was a caution gettin' it, by all accounts. Jinny
has always knowed Phrony; every one round about Cyrus knows them two and
their goin's on. Lived mostly on grocery samples and borrowed garden
truck till you come to board with 'em; and I don't believe they've fed
you high enough to hurt you any, have they?"

"Well! I don't know as I've been in any real danger of apoplexy from
over-eatin'," said Calvin slowly; "but I ain't made no complaint."

"I know you ain't!" said Mr. Cheeseman. "That's one thing has made folks
anxious. You mustn't take it amiss, friend Calvin. You are well liked
all round the neighborhood; and folks _will_ talk about what interests
them, sir, it's the natur' of human bein's so to do. Well, about this
bunnet. Jinny showed her a quiet, decent article, suitable to her years
and appearance; but she tossed her head up, and says she, 'I guess
not!' she says. 'Show me a bridal bunnet, please, Miss Bascom!' Well,
Jinny Bascom runs mostly to eyes and ears, any way of it, and you may
suppose that was nuts to her. So she fetched out a white bunnet, and
says, 'You goin' to be married, Phrony?' Phrony she tosses her head
again, and simpers up. 'I ain't sayin' anything yet,' she says, 'nor yet
I don't want it _should_ be said till after a week from next Sunday; but
if you should see me then in this bunnet, you can draw your own
conclusions!' she says. Then she begun to turn her ridic'lous old head
this way and that before the glass. 'Cap'n Parks likes a handsome
bunnet!' she says. 'He wouldn't wish for me to wear any other;' and goes
on like that till Jinny had all she could do to keep her face straight.
Now you know, friend Calvin, that was pretty straight talk, and Jinny
Bascom wasn't one to keep it to herself; so you can't wonder it got
about, can you?"

"Not a mite!" said Calvin moodily.

"But you could wonder at my bein' taken in by it," Mr. Cheeseman went
on, "and I wonder myself. But I was startled, you see, and took aback,
and--well, that's all over. Now, what are you goin' to do about this,
friend Parks?"

Calvin rose again, running his fingers through his thick brown hair as
he did so, and seeming to draw himself up to a portentous height.

"I--d