ee about that, young lady. But now, as a customer has
been drumming on my shelf for the past five minutes, in a frantic
endeavor to attract my attention, and has by this time worked himself
into a fine irascible temper, because I will not even glance at him, I
must bid you good-night, with the advice, watch for that _twinkle_, and be
sure you discover it!"

CHAPTER IV.

NEIGHBORLY CALLS.

In the opinion of Miss Betsey Kling, a lone young woman, who possessed
three large trunks, a more than average share of good looks, and who
went out and came in at irregular and unheard-of hours, was a person to
be looked after and inquired about; accordingly, while Miss Archer was
making the acquaintance of Nattie, and of the invisible "C," Miss Kling
descended upon Mrs. Simonson, with the object of dragging from that lady
all possible information she might be possessed of, regarding her latest
lodger. As a result, Miss Kling learned that Miss Archer was studying to
become an opera singer, that she occasionally now sang at concerts,
meeting with encouraging success, and further, that she possessed the
best of references. But Miss Kling gave a sniffle of distrust.

"Public characters are not to be trusted. Do you remember," she asked
solemnly, "do you remember the young man you once had here, who ran away
with your teaspoons and your toothbrush?"

Ah, yes! Mrs. Simonson remembered him perfectly. Was she likely to
forget him? But he, Mrs. Simonson respectfully submitted, was not a
singer, but a commercial traveler.

Miss Kling shook her head.

"That experience should be a warning! You cannot deny that no young
woman of a modest and retiring disposition would seek to place herself
in a public position. Can you imagine _me_ upon the stage?" concluded Miss
Kling with great dignity.

Mrs. Simonson was free to admit that her imagination could contemplate
no such possibility, and then, neither desirous of criticising a good
paying lodger, or of offending Miss Kling--that struggle with the ways
and means having taught her to, offend no one if it could possibly be
avoided--she changed the subject by expatiating at length upon a topic
she always found safe--the weather. But Miss Celeste Fishblate coming
in, Miss Kling left the weather to take care of itself, and returned to
the more interesting discussion, to her, of Miss Archer.

Celeste, a young lady favored with a countenance that impressed the
beholder as being principal