, and sayin' you never told us
the rest of that nice story you began the first time you was here."

"What story?" asked Calvin Parks.

"Why, your own story, to be sure. You told us how you was displeased at
a woman's bein' owner of your schooner,--" her eyes twinkled
mischievously,--"and how you come ashore and set up your candy route;
but Cousins were just sayin' they didn't know where you lived, nor how
you was fixed anyways, except that you had that nice hoss and waggin."

"That so?" said Calvin, musing. "Well, I don't know as there's any
particklar story to the rest on't. I drive my route, you know; quite a
ways it is; takes me about a week to git round it all. 'Tis pleasant
doin's for the most part, only when it comes to gettin' in and out of
this shay; that gits me every time. But I see the country, you
know--pretty country it is; I never see a prettier,--and meet up with
folks and all,--"

"Where do you reside?" inquired Mr. Sam. He had moved his chair near the
door of Mr. Sim's sitting-room, where Calvin was, and now peered round
the doorjamb, his body invisible, his little wizen face appearing as if
hung in air.

"Great snakes, Sam!" exclaimed Calvin Parks. "Don't scare the life out
of us. Where's the rest of you? No use your pretendin' to be one of them
cherub articles, 'cause you don't look it, and don't let anyone deceive
you into thinkin' you do. I live--if you call it livin',--down Tinkham
way, about ten miles from here. I'm boardin' with Widder Marlin and her
daughter. Ever hear of Phrony Marlin? Well, she's a case, Phrony is, and
the old lady's another. Widder of a sea-cap'n that I sailed with in
former days. She has a little home, and she lets me have a room. I don't
know as the old lady is quite right in her mind--I don't know as either
one of 'em is, come to think of it; and she ain't much of a cook; but as
she says, it's only suppers and breakfasts, and it's all dust and ashes
anyway. It ain't worth while to make trouble, and I git on first-rate."

"I'm afraid they don't make you real comfortable, Mr. Parks!" said Mary
Sands. "I should think they might; I don't believe but what you do your
part and more too."

"Well, I dono!" said Calvin simply. "I try to help out, split the wood,
kerry water and like that; two lone women, ye know, no man belongin' to
'em; I wouldn't wish to let 'em feel forsaken any."

"Do they give you enough to eat?" inquired Mr. Sim.

"Oh, I guess so. They don't feed me