s?"

"I sha'n't tell you. I promised Miss Martha I wouldn't tell one word
about that money and I ain't goin' to."

"Hooray, Posy! That's the way to talk! Well, now, be honest about it:
What did you have for supper night afore last? Mince pie, was it? Why
didn't you eat another slice? Then you'd have dreamed about a mackerel
keg full of di'monds, most likely."

Captain Jethro, trying to fall asleep on the couch in the dining room,
turned over in disgust and raised himself upon an elbow preparatory
to shouting an order for silence. But Primmie's next speech caught his
attention and the order was not given.

"Dreamed!" retorted the indignant young woman. "Are you tryin' to tell
me I only dreamed about that money, Zacheus Bloomer? Huh! My Lord of
Isrul! If you'd seen that great big piled-up heap of bills layin' right
there on the table in our settin' room where Mr. Bangs put 'em, I guess
you'd have said 'dreams' and more, too. Ten dollar bills there was and
twenties and--and thirties and forties, for all I know."

"That so? Right where Mr. Bangs put 'em, eh? Now I KNOW you was
dreamin', Pansy Blossom. That little dried-up Bangs man ain't worth
more'n ten cents, if that."

"He ain't? How do you know he ain't?"

"Same as I know when that Lucy Larcom tomcat of Martha's has been in a
fight, by the looks of him. Look at the Bangs man's clothes, and--and
his hat--and--why, Godfreys mighty, he can't afford to get his hair cut
oftener than once in three months! Anyhow, he don't. And you stand there
and tell me he come cruisin' in t'other night and commenced sheddin'
million dollar bills all over the furniture. Where'd he get 'em to? Dig
'em up over in the Baptist graveyard?"

"No, he never. He got 'em up to Boston. Leastways, I guess he did,
'cause that's where he went. And, besides, what do you know about how
much he's worth? He may look kind of--of ratty, but all the same he's
got rich relations. Why, one of his relations is head of the biggest
broke--I mean, brokin' and bank place there is in Boston. Cabot,
Bancroft and--and Thingumbob is the name of it. And Miss Martha told me
'twas--"

There was much more of this and the listener on the dining room couch
heard it all. He remained on that couch until Miss Cash, at the back
door of the kitchen, delivered her triumphant farewell.

"So there now, Zach Bloomer," she said, "I guess you believe now I
didn't dream it. And you needn't ask any more questions because I
sha'n