g back. "I'll go into the kitchen. I
didn't know; no bad news, I hope, Mis' Marlin?"

"She's all broke up!" said the old woman.

"So I see. Anything special happened?"

"Oh! you cruel man!" moaned Miss Phrony from the corner.

"Who?" said Calvin. "Me? Now what a way to talk! What's the matter, Miss
Phrony? What have I done? Why, I haven't been here since breakfast
time."

"That's it!" said the widow. "She's ben lookin' for you all afternoon,
and she had extry victuals cooked for you, and you never come."

"Now ain't that a sight!" said Calvin cheerily. "Why, I told you I'd
most likely be late, don't you rec'lect I did? We've been a long ways
to-day, hossy and me have. How about them victuals, now? I could eat a
barn door, seem's though."

"How long was you at them Sillses?" demanded Miss Phrony, wiping her
eyes elaborately. "You didn't keep _them_ waitin', I'll be bound."

"Why, I took dinner with 'em," said Calvin, indulgently. "I told you I
was goin' to, you know. Gorry! you wouldn't have wanted me here to
dinner if you'd seen the way I ate. How was your chicken, old lady? He
looked like a good one. I picked out the best nourished one I could
find."

"I wish't those folks was dead, and you too, and me, and everybody!"
broke out Miss Phrony suddenly.

"Sho!" said Calvin Parks. "The whole set out, eh? Now I am surprised at
you. Just think what all them funerals would come to; why, we should
have to call on the town, certin we should. Come now, Miss Phrony, cheer
up! I'll go and get my own supper, if you'll tell me what _to_ get."

"The Lord will provide!" piped up the old woman shrilly.

"I don't doubt it," said Calvin Parks. "I'll kind o' look round, though;
I don't want to give no trouble."

"If you'll set down, Cap'n Parks," said Miss Phrony majestically, "I'll
get your supper."

Once more wiping her eyes, she sailed out of the room. Calvin looked
after her meditatively. "I didn't think of her scarin' up a tantrum," he
said, "or mebbe I'd have hastened more. I dono, though. Christmas Day,
appears as though a man had a right to his time, don't it? Not that I
ain't sorry to have discumbobberated her, for I am. I'd like to see
everybody well content to-night, same as I be."

"She says you're breakin' her heart!" said the old woman, her black eyes
fixed on him.

"Sho! now what a way that is to talk! Why, s'pose I hadn't come home at
all; s'pose I'd stopped to supper, as they asked me to; you'd have sa