ad lookin',
either--Abby isn't. I tell you, Marthy, there isn't your beat in the
hull town for managin' forethoughtedness. Sick or well, you've allus ben
a captain at managin'. Now, come to think it over, this isn't a bad
idee. But, how'll we git her consent? Maybe I'd better step over
and--well--ruther lead up to the subject. I might--"

"That dish water's a-b'ilin', Andrew. It's a-b'ilin' hard. I c'n hear
it."

Andrew started briskly for the kitchen, and the dishes clattered
merrily. An hour later he framed himself in the doorway in his Sunday
clothes.

"I have to go down to the store this afternoon to git that baggin' for
the hops, and I can jest as well 's not go round by Supes' and--sort
of--talk that over with Abby--and tell her your wishes. I never deny you
nothin', Marthy; you know that. If it'll be any comfort to you, I'll
jest brace up and do it, no matter how hard it is."

"Well--say, Andrew, wait a minute. Maybe you'd better wait till we talk
it over a little more. I might consult with Abby, myself, on the
subject--An-ndrew! An-ndrew! That man is gittin' a good deal deafer'n
he'll own to."

It was quite supper time when Andrew returned; it was too late to cook
anything, so he brought Marthy some of the Sunday baked beans and brown
bread, with the cider apple sauce.

"Well, you must 'a' had a time of it with her," suggested his wife as he
placed the tray. "I hope you didn't do more'n make a suppositious case
and find out what her sentiments was."

"That was what I set out to do, but she was so surprised an' asked so
many questions that I jest had to up and tell her what I was drivin' at.
I told her that it was your last wish, and that you'd set your heart on
it till you felt like you couldn't die easy unless you knew who was
goin' to have your house and your beddin' and--me, and after I'd
reasoned with her quite a spell and she'd ruther got used to the idee,
she saw how 'twas. I thought you'd like to have it settled, because you
allus do, and, as you say, there's no tellin' what day'll be to-morrow.
Then, that Willy Parks is likely to come back and spile the hull plan."

"Settle it all? Why, what did she say to it?"

"I guess you may call it settled. I asked her if she'd consider herself
engaged to me--"

"What? What's that? Engaged to you?"

"Yes; isn't that what you wanted?"

"What did she say to that?"

"She said yes, she guessed that she would, though she would like to
think it over a li