stated by a person who had closely observed the capitalist's
movements during his trip, that he had gone into a first-class
clothier's and demanded suits of the best material and latest cut,
regardless of cost, and that he had pursued the same singular coarse at
a gent's furnishing store, and a fashionable jeweler's.

Certain it is that on the morning of Mr. Putchett's return a gentleman
very well dressed, though seemingly ill at ease in his clothing, called
at Mrs. Brown's boarding-house, and engaged a room, and that the younger
ladies pronounced him very stylish and the older ones thought him very
odd. But as he never intruded, spoke only when spoken to, and devoted
himself earnestly and entirely to the task of amusing the children, the
boarders all admitted that he was very good-hearted.

Among Alice's numerous confidences, during her second stroll with Mr.
Putchett, was information as to the date of her seventh birthday, now
very near at hand. When the day arrived, her adorer arose unusually
early, and spent an impatient hour or two awaiting Alice's appearance.
As she bade him good-morning, he threw about her neck a chain, to which
was attached an exquisite little watch; then, while the delighted child
was astonishing her parents and the other boarders, Mr. Putchett betook
himself to the barn in a state of abject sheepishness. He did not appear
again until summoned by the breakfast-bell, and even then he sat with a
very red face, and with eyes directed at his plate only. The child's
mother remonstrated against so much money being squandered on a child,
and attempted to return the watch, but he seemed so distressed at the
idea that the lady dropped the subject.

For a fortnight, Mr. Putchett remained at the boarding-house, and grew
daily in the estimation of every one. From being thought queer and
strange, he gradually gained the reputation of being the best-hearted,
most guileless, most considerate man alive. He was the faithful squire
of all the ladies, both young and old, and was adored by all the
children. His conversational powers--except on matters of business--were
not great, but his very ignorance on all general topics, and the
humility born of that ignorance, gave to his manners a deference which
was more gratifying to most ladies than brilliant loquacity would have
been. He even helped little Alice to study a Sunday-school lesson, and
the experience was so entirely new to him, that he became more deeply