and settle down together, you and me? I don't see none. You could keep
house for me then, and 'twouldn't cost--that is, you could look out for
me, and I--well, I suppose likely I could look out for you, too. Why
not?"

"Why, how you talk, Caleb Hammond!"

"No, I don't talk neither. I mean it. You was wishin' for a home of your
own; so was I. Let's have one together."

"Well, I swan! Get married at our--at our age! I never did hear such
talk! We'd be a nice young bride and groom, wouldn't we? I guess East
Wellmouth folks would have somethin' to laugh at then."

"Let 'em laugh. Laughin' don't cost nothin', and, if it does, we won't
have to pay for it. See here, Hannah, this ain't any foolish front-gate
courtin', this ain't. It's just common-sense business. Let's do it. I
will if you will."

Miss Parker shook her head. The prospect of being Mrs. Caleb Hammond
was not too alluring. Caleb's reputation as a husband was not, while
his wife lived, that of a "liberal provider." And yet this was Hannah's
first proposal, and it had come years after she had given up hoping for
one. So she prolonged the delicious moment as long as possible.

"I suppose you're thinkin' about that brother of yours," suggested Mr.
Hammond. "Well, he'll be all right. 'Cordin' to what I've heard, and
seen myself, he's hangin' around that hired help girl at the High Cliff
pretty reg'lar these days. Maybe he'll marry her and you'll be left
without anybody. If he don't marry her he can come to live along of
us--maybe. If he does he'll mind his p's and q's, I tell you that. He'll
find out who's boss."

This speech had an effect. For the first time Hannah's determination
wavered. Kenelm was, although Caleb did not know it, actually engaged to
marry Imogene. His sister was even then writhing under the humiliation.
And here was an opportunity to get even, not only with Kenelm, but with
the "inmate." If she, Hannah, were to marry and leave the pair instead
of being herself left! Oh, the glory of it--the triumphant glory of it!
How she could crush her brother! How she could gloat over and sneer
at Imogene! The things she might say--she, the wife of a rich man! Oh,
wonderful!

"Well, come on, Hannah, come on," urged the impatient Caleb. "What do
you say?"

But Miss Parker still shook her head. "It ain't any use, Caleb," she
declared. "Even if--if I wanted to, how could I tell Kenelm? He'd raise
an awful fuss. He'd tell everybody and they--"

"No, he