a coat.
It was October and it was cool, but there was no man in Plainton who
would have worn such a coat as that so early in the season even if he
had one.

The gentleman had dark eyes and a very large mustache, and he carried a
cane and wore rather bright tan-colored gloves. All these things Willy
observed in an instant, for she was very quick in taking notice of
people's clothes and general appearance.

The gentleman raised his hat and asked if Mrs. Cliff lived there. Now
Willy thought he must be an extraordinary fine gentleman, for how should
he know that she was not a servant, and in those parts gentlemen did not
generally raise their hats to girls who opened front doors.

The gentleman was admitted and was ushered into the parlor, where sat
Mrs. Cliff. She was a little surprised at the sight of this visitor, who
came in with his hat on, but who took it off and made her a low bow as
soon as he saw her. But she thought she appreciated the situation, and
she hardened her heart.

A strange man, so finely dressed, and with such manners, must have come
for money, and Mrs. Cliff had already learned to harden her heart
towards strangers who solicited. But the hardness of her heart utterly
disappeared in her amazement when this gentleman, having pulled off his
right glove, advanced toward her, holding out his hand.

"You don't remember me, Mrs. Cliff?" he said in a loud, clear voice. "No
wonder, for I am a good deal changed, but it is not the same with you.
You are the same as ever--I declare you are!"

Mrs. Cliff took the proffered hand, and looked into the face of the
speaker. There was something there which seemed familiar, but she had
never known such a fine gentleman as this. She thought over the people
whom she had seen in France and in California, but she could not
recollect this face.

"It's a mean thing to be puzzlin' you, Mrs. Cliff," said the stranger,
with a cheery smile. "I'm George Burke, seaman on the _Castor_, where I
saw more of you, Mrs. Cliff, than I've ever seen since; for though we
have both been a good deal jumbled up since, we haven't been jumbled up
together, so I don't wonder if you don't remember me, especially as I
didn't wear clothes like these on the _Castor_. Not by any means, Mrs.
Cliff!"

"I remember you," she said, and she shook his hand warmly. "I remember
you, and you had a mate named Edward Shirley."

"Yes, indeed!" said Mr. Burke, "and he's all right, and I'm all right,
and h