ordeal of refusing. In fact he was not sure that he
could refuse, not sure that he could invent a believable excuse for
doing so. Another person would not have sought excuses, would have
declared simply that the property was not for rent, but Jed Winslow
was not that other person; he was himself, and ordinary methods of
procedure were not his.

Two or three groups of customers came in, purchased and departed.
Captain Jerry Burgess dropped in to bring the Winslow mail, which
in this case consisted of an order, a bill and a circular setting
forth the transcendent healing qualities of African Balm, the Foe
of Rheumatism. Mr. Bearse happened in to discuss the great news of
the proposed aviation camp and to tell with gusto and detail how
Phineas Babbitt had met Captain Hunniwell "right square in front of
the bank" and had not spoken to him. "No, sir, never said a word
to him no more'n if he wan't there. What do you think of that?
And they say Leander wrote his dad that he thought he was goin' to
like soldierin' fust-rate, and Mrs. Sarah Mary Babbitt she told
Melissa Busteed that her husband's language when he read that was
somethin' sinful. She said she never was more thankful that they
had lightnin' rods on the roof, 'cause such talk as that was enough
to fetch down fire from heaven."

CHAPTER V

It was nearly noon when Jed, entering the front shop in answer to
the bell, found there the couple the sight of which caused his
heart to sink. Here they were, the house hunters--there was no
doubt of it in his mind. The man was short and broad and
protuberant and pompous. The woman possessed all the last three
qualities, besides being tall. He shone with prosperity and
sunburn, she reeked of riches and talcum. They were just the sort
of people who would insist upon hiring a house that was not in the
market; its not being in the market would, in their eyes, make it
all the more desirable.

Jed had seen them before, knew they were staying at the hotel and
that their names were Powless. He remembered now, with a thrill of
alarm, that Mr. Bearse had recently spoken of them as liking Orham
very much and considering getting a place of their own. And of
course Captain Sam, hearing this, had told them of the Winslow
place, had sent them to him. "Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!" thought Jed,
although what he said was: "Good mornin'."

He might as well have said nothing. Mrs. Powless, looming large
between the piles of mills