o be a piece of absolute extravagance. It was used
almost exclusively by Willy, who was known to deal with shops in the
most distant part of the town in order that she might have an excuse, it
was said, to order out that wagon and have Andrew Marks to drive her.

Of course they did not know how often Mrs. Cliff had said to herself
that it was really not a waste of money to keep this horse, for Willy
was no longer young; and if she could save her any weary steps, she
ought to do it, and at the same time relieve a little the congested
state of her income.

Moreover, Mr. Burke was not of an unknown family. He was quite willing
to talk about himself, especially to Mr. Williams, as they sat and
smoked together in the evening, and he said a good deal about his
father, who had owned two ships at Nantucket, and who, according to his
son, was one of the most influential citizens of the place.

Mr. Williams had heard of the Burkes of Nantucket, and he did not think
any the less of the one who was now his guest, because his father's
ships had come to grief during his boyhood, and he had been obliged to
give up a career on shore, which he would have liked, and go to sea,
which he did not like. A brave spirit in poverty coupled with a liberal
disposition in opulence was enough to place Mr. Burke on a very high
plane in the opinions of the people of Plainton.

Half a mile outside the town, upon a commanding eminence, there was a
handsome house which belonged to a family named Buskirk. These people
were really not of Plainton, although their post-office and railroad
station were there. They were rich city people who came to this country
place for the summer and autumn, and who had nothing to do with the town
folks, except in a limited degree to deal with some of them.

This family lived in great style, and their coachman and footman in knee
breeches, their handsome horses with docked tails, the beautiful grounds
about their house, a feebly shooting fountain on the front lawn, were a
source of anxious disquietude in the mind of Mrs. Cliff. They were like
the skeletons which were brought in at the feasts of the ancients.

"If I should ever be obliged to live like the Buskirks on the hill," the
good lady would say to herself, "I would wish myself back to what I used
to be, asking only that my debts be paid."

Even the Buskirks took notice of Mr. Burke. In him they thought it
possible they might have a neighbor. If he should buy a p