t, sober housekeeper."

"Godfrey! Aunt Debby ain't frivolous! She couldn't chase a lame
clam--and catch it. And DEEF! Godfrey--scissors! she's deefer 'n one of
them cast-iron Newfoundlands in Heman's yard! Do you mean to say, Bailey
Bangs, that you went ahead, on your own hook, and hired that old relic
to--"

"I did. And I had my authority, didn't I, Whit? You told me you'd leave
it in my hands, now didn't you?"

The captain smiled somewhat ruefully, and scratched his head. "Why,
to be honest, Bailey, I believe I did," he admitted. "Still, I hardly
expected--Humph! is she deef, as Ase says?"

"I understand she's a little mite hard of hearin'," replied Mr. Bangs,
with dignity; "but that ain't any drawback, the way I look at it. Fact
is, I'd call it an advantage, but you folks seem to be hard to please.
I ruther imagined you'd thank me for gettin' her, but I s'pose that was
too much to expect. All right, pitch her out! Don't mind MY feelin's!
Poor homeless critter comin' to--"

"Homeless!" repeated Asaph. "What's that got to do with it? Cy ain't
runnin' the Old Woman's Home."

"Well, well!" observed the captain resignedly. "There's no use in rowin'
about what can't be helped. Bailey says he shipped her for a month's
trial, and here comes the depot wagon now. That's her on the aft thwart,
I judge. She AIN'T what you'd call a spring pullet, is she!"

She certainly was not. The occupant of the depot wagon's rear seat was a
thin, not to say scraggy, female, wearing a black, beflowered bonnet and
a black gown. A black knit shawl was draped about her shoulders and she
wore spectacles.

"Whoa!" commanded Mr. Lumley, piloting the depot wagon to the side door
of the Whittaker house. Dan'l Webster came to anchor immediately. Gabe
turned and addressed his passenger.

"Here we be!" he shouted.

"Hey?" observed the lady in black.

"Here--we--be!" repeated Gabe, raising his voice.

"See? See what?"

"Oh, heavens to Betsey! I'm gettin' the croup from howlin'.
I--say--HERE--WE--BE! GET OUT!"

He accompanied the final bellow with an expressive pantomime indicating
that the passenger was expected to alight. She seemed to understand,
for she opened the door of the carriage and slowly descended. Mr. Bangs
advanced to meet her.

"How d'ye do, Mrs. Beasley!" he said. "Glad to see you all safe and
sound."

Mrs. Beasley shook his hand; hers were covered, as far as the knuckles,
by black mitts.

"How d'ye do, Cap'n Whittak