at's fit to travel, nor yet he ain't able to see to
things as should be. But if he and Cousin was man and wife, don't you
see, the two of 'em could get on fust-rate, and I could go off. You see
how 'tis, Calvin, don't you?"

Calvin Parks turned upon him with a flash.

"What makes you think she'd be seen dead with either one of you two
squinny old lobsters?" he asked fiercely.

Mr. Sam stared again.

"A woman, Calvin, wants a home!" he said solemnly. "Anybody can see
that. Cousin has money in the bank, and she's owner of a schooner, but
she has no home. I expect she'd have married Reuben if he'd been anyways
agreeable _to_ marry. He expected she would, sure as shootin'; lotted on
it, they say. But take a man with one eye and that rollin', and snug,
_and_ a bad disposition, why, it ain't no great of an outlook for a
woman, even if the farm was better than it is. Anyways, she wouldn't
look at him, and that's how she come here. Now here,"--he waved his hand
in a circle. "Look around you, Calvin Parks! Where is she goin' to find
a home like this? for stock, or for truck, or for sightliness, there
ain't its ekal in the county. There ain't its ekal in the State. Now,
Cal, I'm a fair-minded man. A woman brought this farm up to what it is.
Ma done it, sir! I don't say but Sim and me done our best since we
growed up, but Ma done the heft on't, and it needs a woman now. It needs
a woman, Calvin, and Cousin needs a home; and I'm of the opinion that
she won't get such a bad bargain, even with Simeon thrown in. There's no
harm in Simeon, Cal, not a mite!"

"Not a mite!" Calvin echoed mechanically.

"Now,"--Mr. Sam drew himself up, and tapped Calvin on the shoulder. "I
want you to help me, Calvin Parks!"

Calvin growled, but a growl may mean anything. Mr. Sam took it for
assent.

"That's right!" he said. "That's it, Calvin. You talk to Cousin, and
tell her about the farm, and kinder throw in a word for Sim now and
then. Why, he's a real good fellow, Sim is, when he ain't a darned fool.
They'd get on fust-rate. And you talk to him, too, when she's out of the
way! Tell him he needs a woman of his own, and like that. Mebbe you
might drop a hint about my goin' away, if you see a good openin'; why,
you're jest the one to make a match, with your pleasant ways, kind o'
jokin' and cheerful. Make her feel as if she wanted a man of her own,
too. Think about it, Cal! Say you'll think about it!"

"I'll think about it!" said Calvin Park