"Do tell! Down a well, Jerushah? At your time of life!"

"You see I was after specimens, my dear," went on the professor.

"Specimens!" exclaimed Miss Melissa. "The whole house is full of old
rocks now, Jerushah, an' you have ter go down a well to get more."

"These are very valuable, my dear," said the professor, floundering
helplessly.

"Oh, don't tell me. A passel of old rocks. I'm going to get you a hot
mustard footbath and some herb tea right away," and without another
word, except something about "death of cold, passel of boys," the good
lady flounced off.

"She's like that sometimes, but she means well, Melissa does,"
explained the professor, with a rather sheepish look as he stood in
the midst of a puddle that was rapidly converting him into an isolated
island in the midst of Miss Melissa's immaculate hall carpet.
Suddenly, with one of his impulsive movements, he darted off into a
room opening off the hall and came back with a dollar bill he had
unearthed from a desk. He handed it to Jack, and then, raising his
finger to his lips, he said:

"Don't let Melissa see it. She's the best of women, is Melissa, but
peculiar about some things--er--very peculiar."

"Je-ru-shah!" came Miss Melissa's voice.