would almost certainly have remained lost.
He liked Mrs. Armstrong even on such short acquaintance, and he had
taken a real fancy to Barbara; but his prejudice against tenants
remained. He rubbed his chin.

"Why--why, now, ma'am," he stammered, "you--you wouldn't like
livin' in Orham all the year 'round, would you?"

"I hope I should. I know I should like it better than living--
elsewhere," with, so it seemed to him, a little shudder. "And I
cannot afford to live otherwise than very simply anywhere. I have
been boarding in Orham for almost three months now and I feel that
I have given it a trial."

"Yes--yes, ma'am, but summer's considerable more lively than winter
here on the Cape."

"I have no desire for society. I expect to be quiet and I wish to
be. Mr. Winslow, would you consider letting me occupy this house--
unfurnished, of course? I should dearly love to take it just as it
is--this furniture is far more fitting for it than mine--but I
cannot afford forty dollars a month. Provided you were willing to
let me hire the house of you at all, not for the summer alone but
for all the year, what rent do you think you should charge?"

Jed's embarrassment increased. "Well, now, ma'am," he faltered,
"I--I hope you won't mind my sayin' it, but--but I don't know's I
want to let this house at all. I--I've had consider'ble many
chances to rent it, but--but--"

He could not seem to find a satisfactory ending to the sentence and
so left it unfinished. Mrs. Armstrong was evidently much
disappointed, but she did not give up completely.

"I see," she said. "Well, in a way I think I understand. You
prefer the privacy. I think I could promise you that Barbara and I
would disturb you very little. As to the rent, that would be paid
promptly."

"Sartin, ma'am, sartin; I know 'twould, but--"

"Won't you think it over? We might even live here for a month,
with your furniture undisturbed and at the regular rental. You
could call it a trial month, if you liked. You could see how you
liked us, you know. At the end of that time," with a smile, "you
might tell us we wouldn't do at all, or, perhaps, then you might
consider making a more permanent arrangement. Barbara would like
it here, wouldn't you, dear?"

Barbara, who had been listening, nodded excitedly from the big
rocker. "Ever and ever so much," she declared; "and Petunia would
just adore it."

Poor Jed was greatly perturbed. "Don't talk so, Mrs. Arm