a man he knows he'd oughter stop
backbitin' and hittin' out behind another man's back--he'd oughter come
out inter the open an' say, 'You ain't done the right thing by me, now
let's both hev it out', instead of growlin' and grumblin' an' spittin'
out such all-fired nonsense 'bout the syndicaters and Champ--what's
Champ got to do with it, anyway? He can't make money for 'em."

The crowds were surging past them; the men were talking together; their
confused speech precluded the possibility of understanding what was
said.

"He's no better than other men, Uncle Jo," the girl remarked after the
men had passed. She laughed as she spoke, but the laugh was not a
pleasant one; it roused Octavius.

"Now, look here, Aileen, you stop right where you are--"

She interrupted him, and her voice was again both merry and pleasant,
for they were directly opposite Luigi's shop: "I'm going to, Tave; I'm
going to stop right here; Mrs. Champney sent me down on purpose to get
some of those late peaches Luigi keeps; she said she craved them, and
I'm going in this very minute to get them--"

She waved her hand to both and entered the shop.

Old Quimber caught Octavius by the arm to detain him a moment before he
himself retraced his steps up street.

"What d'ye think, Tave?--they goin' to make a match on't, she an' Poggi?
I see 'm together a sight."

"You can't tell 'bout Aileen any more'n a weather-cock. She might go
farther and fare worse."

"Thet's so, Tave; Poggi's a man, an' a credit to our town. I guess from
all I hear Romanzo's 'bout give it up, ain't he?"

"Romanzo never had a show with Aileen," Octavius said decidedly; "he
ain't her kind."

"Guess you're right, Tave--By A. J. there they go now!" He nudged
Octavius with his elbow. Octavius, who had passed the shop and was
standing on the sidewalk with old Quimber, saw the two leave it and walk
slowly in the direction of The Bow. He listened for the sound of
Aileen's merry laugh and chat, but he heard nothing. His grave face at
once impressed Joel.

"Something's up 'twixt those two, eh, Tave?" he whispered.

Octavius nodded in reply; he was comprehending all that old man's words
implied. He bade Quimber good night and walked on to The Greenbush. The
Colonel found him more taciturn than usual that evening....

"I can't, Luigi,--I can't marry you," she answered almost irritably. The
two were nearing the entrance to Champo; the Italian was pleading his
cause. "I can't--so