heck to you?"

"Yes--ah--yes. If you will be so kind. You will excuse me, won't you,
but really I must hurry on. Thank you very much, Mr. Barbour."

"But I don't quite understand which you wish me to do, Professor. Of
course, Thomas usually attends to all this--your affairs, I mean--but I
am trying not to trouble him unless it is absolutely necessary. Shall I
send the check direct to you, is that it?"

"Yes--yes, that will do very nicely. Thank you, Mr. Barbour.
Good-morning."

He hurried out before Barbour could say any more. He cared nothing about
Tinplate melons or checks; in fact, he forgot them both almost before
he reached the street. But Martha Phipps--he had assured and reassured
Martha Phipps that Cousin Gussie would help her out of her financial
difficulties. And Cousin Gussie had not as yet learned of those
difficulties, nor, in all probability, would he be permitted ever to
learn of them.

Galusha Bangs' trip back to East Wellmouth was by no means a pleasure
excursion. What should he say to Martha? How could he be truthful and
yet continue to be encouraging? If he had not been so unreasonably
optimistic it would be easier, but he had never once admitted the
possibility of failure. And--no, he would not admit it now. Somehow and
in some way Martha's cares must be smoothed away. That he determined.
But what should he say to her now?

He was still asking himself that question when he turned in at the
Phipps' gate. And Fate so arranged matters that it was Primmie who heard
the gate latch click and Primmie who came flying down the path to meet
him.

"Mr. Bangs! Oh, Mr. Bangs!" she cried, breathlessly. "It's all right,
ain't it? It's all right?"

Galusha, startled, stared at her.

"Dear me, Primmie," he observed. "How you do--ah--bounce at one, so to
speak. What is the matter?"

"Matter? I cal'late we both know what's the matter, but what _I_ want to
know is if it's goin' to keep ON bein' the matter. Is it all right? Have
you fixed it up?"

"Fixed what up? And PLEASE speak lower. Yes, and don't--ah--bounce, if
you don't mind."

"I won't, honest I won't. But have you fixed up Miss Martha's trouble;
you and them Bancroft folks, I mean? Have you, Mr. Bangs?"

"Bancroft folks?... How did you know I--"

"I seen it, of course. 'Twas in that note you left on the table."

"Note? Why, Primmie, that note was for Miss Phipps. Why did you read
it?"

"Why wouldn't I read it? There 'twas laid out on the ta