ences as those
described by the veracious Mr. Bloomer in his record-breaking gale, but
during that winter he learned a little of what New England coast weather
could be and often was. And he learned, also, that that weather was,
like most blusterers, not nearly as savage when met squarely face to
face. He learned to put on layer after layer of garments, topping off
with oilskins, sou'wester and mittens, and tramp down to the village for
the mail or to do the household errands. He was growing stronger all
the time and if the doctor could have seen him plowing through drifts or
shouldering his way through a driving rain he would have realized that
his patient was certainly obeying the order to "keep out of doors."
Martha Phipps was perfectly certain that her lodger was keeping out of
doors altogether too much.

"You aren't goin' out to-day, Mr. Bangs, are you?" she exclaimed. "It's
as cold as the North Pole. You'll freeze."

Galusha smiled beneath his cap visor and between the ear-laps.

"Oh, no, indeed," he declared. "It's brisk and--ah--snappy, that's all.
A smart walk will do me good. I am accustomed to walking. In Egypt I
walk a GREAT deal."

"I don't doubt it; but you don't have much of this sort of weather in
Egypt, if what I've heard is true."

Mr. Bangs' smile broadened. "I fear I shall have to admit that," he
said; "but my--ah--physician told me that a change would be good for me.
And this IS a change, now isn't it?"

"I should say it was. About as much change as a plate of ice cream after
a cup of hot coffee. Well, if you're bound to go, do keep walkin' fast.
Don't forget that it's down to zero or thereabouts; don't forget that
and wander over to the old cemetery and kneel down in front of a slate
tombstone and freeze to death."

"Oh, I shall be all right, Miss Phipps. Really I shall. Don't worry, I
beg of you."

He had begged her not to worry on many other occasions and she had been
accustomed to answer him in a manner half joking and half serious. But
this time she did not answer at all for a moment, and when she did there
was no hint of a joke in her tone.

"No," she said, slowly. "I won't. I couldn't, I guess. Don't seem as if
I could carry any more worries just now, any more than I am carryin', I
mean."

She sighed as she said it and he looked at her in troubled alarm.

"Oh, dear me!" he exclaimed. "I--I'm so sorry. Sorry that you are
worried, I mean. Is there anything I can do to--to--I shoul