Mary-'Gusta

she was certain it must be very late and, in consequence, was almost dressed when Isaiah knocked at the door to tell her breakfa

Mr. Chase, who was leaning against th

said the child. "There was

one's been on my mind for more'n a fortni't but I've had other things to do. Y

asin and rubbed her face and hands dry upo

reakfast?" she a

and Zoeth's feedin' the hens. They'll be in pretty soon, if we have luck. Course it's TIME f

garded him

ful hard, don't you,

ed at her s

nted. "Who to

guessed it fro

sed right. I don't hav

re you a per

? W

s a perfect slave when

Mrs.

will any more now he's dead. She'll be glad, I guess. Perhaps she won't have to be a perfect slave now.

ourse I don't have t

usta re

pants. You'd get 'em all spotted up if you didn't wear

was sur

is?" h

ethin' else takes out the spots. I know now; it's am-monia. It's very good for spots but

alkin' about? The bottle

-" she paused, evidently in search of a simile; "li

ould be," he declared. "Sneezin' ba

s were still fixe

ward," she observed. "I don't know as I know what a s

y-'Gusta's dignity was hurt.

w that a cook cooked things, and a baker baked t

ed to chuckle. Th

riar doesn't fry things. He is a-a kind of minister. Friar Tuck was one in 'Robin Hoo

interrupted here by the arrival of Zoeth and, a moment later, Captain Shadrach. Bre

he answered when spoken to but the only

e. He'll have a good time out in that barn; there's c

d mouser. Did he look

if he did. You can go see him after breakfast. W

evidently consi

to the store 'long of you and me,"

. "I'd like to very m

y wh

nd the dolls first. Couldn't I c

e from the top of the hill back here. Isaiah'll show you the way. But you can 'tend to-what's that cat's name?-Oh, yes, David-

dently divided between inc

gone off and left 'em and be frightened. This is a strange place to them, same

of business and she and Mr. Chase remained at the house. Her first act, after leaving the table, was to go to the barn and return bearing the cat in her arms

ng in the doorway,

here," she said. "It would be

't no dog nigh enough to do any harm," he said; "beside

David doesn't have a mite of patience with dogs. He doesn't wait to see if they're nice ones or not

illuminating disclosure

oesn't take to dogs, some way. Wh

as the nature of the critters not

"I guess everybody has a nature, cats and all. Mrs. Hobbs sa

wn symptoms of doing something beside lean against the sink and whistle, "do you s

ned to sta

d if I tried hard. If you don't beat anything ev

ing the wash pitc

won't have to have it on your mind any mor

oth hands. Isaiah gazed after her, muttering a word o

te, in her arms. She placed them carefully in the kitchen cha

nehaha ain't very well this mornin'. I guess the excite

make one of her odd changes from childish

e couldn't have any nerves. But I like to play she's nervous and delicate. It's real handy to say that when I don't want to take

im that the tablecloth which had been so severely criticized the previous evening

l longer. Let it stay. Besides," he added, "the washin' ain't

a smiled c

nice one in the bottom drawer of the closet.

ing-room and showed him

I think," she said. "Shal

st tablecloth. Don't use that only

dered. She counte

e used this dirt

repetition of the "we" implied a sense of unwarranted partnership in the househol

asted. The girl s

s one on now it'll be Sunday long before it's time to c

WE ca

s,

was at a loss for words. The Sunday cloth was sprea

you don't need me any more just now I guess

y large, but there was an amazing variety in its stock. Muslin, tape, calico, tacks, groceries, cases of shoes, a rack with spools of thread, another containing a few pocket knives, barrels, half a dozen salt codfish swingin

Hamilton, noticing her scrutin

," said M

safras lozenge

s,

ched them gravely. Captain Shad, who had been waitin

re good enough for any

Then she added, politely: "Only

n it was to dine first that day. The hiring of Annabel had been an unusual break in

n the lane, "what do you think of it? Pretty goo

s,

rent from the Ost

; I-I gue

ell, how

er usual interval

things in it with separat

ake for a moment. Mary-'Gusta,

ke 'em; only I never smelled 'em all at the same

three. She was busy and, apparently, enjoying herself. She helped Isaiah with the housework, and although he fou

ers. "I don't ask her to do dishes nor fill pitche

"So I judged from what I see. Doe

," with a burst of candor, "for h

are you kic

? Only-well, all I say is let her do dis

y wh

with another burst, "that kid's a reg'lar born mother. She mothers that cat and them dolls and the hens already, and I swan to man I believe she'd l

r. When the Captain retired from the sea for the last time, and became partner and fellow shopkeeper with Zoeth, Isaiah had

Chase is a good cook, and, besides, if the biscuits are more fit for cod sinkers than they are for gru

. So Isaiah was hired and had been cook and steward at the South Harniss home for many years. But he made it a practice to assert his independence at frequent intervals, although, as a matter of fact, he would no more

use and the store, and shrewd, old-fashioned comments on persons and things. She was a "queer young-one"; they, like the people of Ostable, agreed on that point, but Mr. Hamilton was inclined to t

ve to give the Judge some sort of an answer pretty

Know

to say yes or no to what Marc

ows. I spoke my mind plain enough to poun

she don't stay here for good where will sh

What more do you want? Jumpin' fire! This fix is your doin' anyway. 'Tain't mine. I

u was the one that would fe

it onto me,

here and we've got to decide whether

red the barn, where the discussion took place, a doll

d Zoeth. "What

The partners had a joint interest in a small cranberry bog

," she said, solemnly. "I'v

Captain. "Well, what made you

a's forehe

Bacheldor yesterday," she s

ile from the Gould-Hamilton place. Abner had the reputation of being the meanest man i

dor made you think, eh? I never should have expe

ul surprised. He has ever so many, sisters and brothers and aunts and cousins and-Oh, everything

aid nothing for a moment. Then Zoeth mu

Now he's dead and I ain't even that. And I ain't anybody's cousin nor nephew nor niece. I just ain't an

pathetic little figure. Again the partners found it hard to answer. Mr. Hamilton looked at the Cap

but they ain't real folks. I wish I had some real folks. Do you suppose if-if I have to go to the-the orphans' home, there'd be anybody there that would be my relation? I didn't know bu

ou mind, Mary-'Gusta," he said. "You ain't gone there yet and afore

?" asked Mary-'

d an instant, glanced at the Captain, and then added: "I tell you what you do: you just pretend I'm your relation, a-well, an uncl

I could tell that Jimmie Bacheldor I had one relation,

. "Shall she, Shadrach?" he a

n's reply might have been different. But the

ain't got anything else to attend to, I have. I'm goin' up to the store. I

'Gusta?" asked Zoeth. "She

there's some of those sassafras-checkerberry lozeng

ead. She looked wistful a

sore throat. I'm goin' to put some red flannel 'round it; Mr. Chase says he cal'l

nswer. He was silent and, for him, grumpy all the forenoon. Another fortnight passed before the subject