owed right off my feet, as you
might say. I acted real unlikely, I know; but, you see, Kenelm does mean
so much to me that I couldn't bear to think of givin' him up to anybody
else. When I come to think it over I realized 'twa'n't no more'n I had
ought to have expected. I mustn't be selfish and I ain't goin' to be.
S'long's 'tain't that--that Jezebel of an Abbie Larkin I don't mind so
much. I couldn't stand havin' her in the family--THAT I couldn't stand.
Oh, and if you don't mind, Mrs. Thankful, just don't say nothin' about
the engagin' yet awhile. I shouldn't mind, of course, but Kenelm, he's
set on keepin' it secret for a spell. There! I must run on. I've got to
go up to the store and get a can of that consecrated soup for supper.
Have you tried them soups? They're awful cheap and handy. You just pour
in hot water and there's more'n enough for a meal. Good-by."

Imogene, when she returned from the Fair, announced that she had had a
perfectly lovely time.

"He ain't such bad company--Kenelm, I mean," she observed. "He talks
a lot, but you don't have to listen unless you want to; and he enjoys
himself real well, considerin' how little practice he's had."

"Did you meet anyone you knew?" asked Emily.

"No'm. We saw quite a lot of folks from East Wellmouth, but we saw 'em
first, so we didn't meet 'em. One kind of funny thing happened: a man
who was outside a snake tent, hollerin' for everybody to come in, saw us
and he says to me: 'Girlie,' he says--he was a fresh guy like all them
kind--'Girlie,' he says, 'ask your pa to take you in and see the Serpent
King eat 'em alive. Only ten cents, Pop,' he says to Kenelm. 'Don't miss
the chance to give your little girl a treat.' Kenelm was all frothed
up at bein' took for my father, but I told him he needn't get mad--if I
could stand it he could, I guessed."

Kenelm reported for work as usual on Monday morning and he
worked--actually worked all day. For an accepted lover he appeared
rather subdued and silent. Captain Obed, who noticed his behavior,
commented upon it.

"Cal'late Kenelm's beginnin' to realize gettin' engaged don't mean all
joy," he said, with a chuckle. "He's just got two bosses instead of one,
that's all. He's scart to death of Hannah at home and when he's
here Imogene orders him 'round the way a bucko mate used to order a
roustabout. I said Hannah was in a clove hitch, didn't I? Well, she is,
but Kenelm--well, Kenelm's like a young one runnin' 'tiddly' on t