ing, I very near gave him an impatient answer;
but that ain't my way: I just held in and told him that I was glad he
thought so, and I believed he weren't the only one. Then he took a curious
look at me and said "Good evening," and went on his way.

And, strange to tell, that last word of mine gave me an idea. Looking back
I can see what tremendous things was hid in that chance speech, for it
decided my life in a manner of speaking. Of course when I told Greg he
weren't the only one, I used a figure of speech and no more, because there
weren't none else and never had been; but now, as I unrayed for bed, I
asked myself how it would be if there was another after me, and though
very well knowing that no such thing could possibly happen, I let the
thought run, pictured myself with another string to my old bow, and
wondered what Mr. Sweet would do then.

I certainly paid the man the compliment of feeling sure, when he heard
that, he'd throw caution to the winds and go for me; and since there
wasn't in sober truth another as had looked upon me with any serious
resolves, I had to set about the matter. The Lord helps those who help
themselves, but not if they be up to anything underhand or devious, as a
rule, and though I might have invented a tale to hoodwink Gregory Sweet,
that must have got back on my conscience, besides being a dangerous thing.
Deceived, the poor man had to be--for his own good, but my story must be
made to hold water and ring true, else, with his doubting and probing
nature, I well knew he'd ferret out the facts and very like leave me a
loser.

But one man there was, who could well be trusted to play his part in this
difficult matter, and he knew the circumstances and had already asked me
time and again when Gregory was going to take the plunge. So I went to
Arthur Parable and explained the situation and hoped, as an old friend and
a well-wisher and a man far above suspicion, he'd lend a hand.

"It's like this, Arthur," I said. "I can trust you with my secrets, you
being a man never known to talk and also a great friend of poor John's."
And then I explained how it was with Mr. Sweet and how he only wanted just
a clever push from outside to propose and be done with it.

Arthur heard me in silence, then he spoke. "You don't want me to tell the
man to offer for you?" he asked, and I replied:

"No Arthur--far from it; but I want you to fall in with a little plot.
There's nothing quickens a man like Gregor