thirty years old, with red cheeks an' curly hair an' polished
finger-nails, an' wrote poetry. Sometimes ye meet a man that
excites yer worst suspicions. Your right hand no sooner lets go o'
his than it slides down into your pocket to see if anything has
happened; or maybe you take the arm o' yer wife or yer daughter an'
walk away. Aleck leaned a little in both directions. But, sir,
Sam didn't care to know my opinion of him. Never said another word
to me on the subject, but came again to ask about the money.

"'Look here, Sam,' I says. 'You tell Lizzie that I want to have a
talk with her at four o'clock in this office? If she really wants
to buy this man, I'll see what can be done about it.'

"'All right, you talk with her,' says he, an' went out.

"In a few minutes Dan showed up.

"'Have you seen Lizzie?' says I.

"'Not to speak to her,' says Dan. 'Looks fine, doesn't she?'

"'Beautiful!'I says. 'How is Marie Benson?'

"'Oh, the second time I went to see her she was trying to keep up
with Lizzie,' says he. 'She's changed her gait. Was going to New
York after a lot o' new frills. I suppose she thought that I
wanted a grand lady. That's the trouble with all the girls here.
A man might as well marry the real thing as an imitation. I wish
Lizzie would get down off her high horse.'