is not clever! I remember as girls--but to go back even of that to the
very heart of the matter, who ever heard of a clever _Wilkerson_? For
she, you know, was born ..."

"Never you mind Mrs. Marsden, Aunt Jennie," said the girl, gently
drawing her back to the muttons,--"we'll make lots more money than she
some day. So you gave him the room, then?"

"Yes, the room known as the third hall back. A small, neat, economical
room, entirely suitable for a single gentleman. I gave him my lowest
price, though I must say I did not dream then that he would spend all
his time in his room, apparently having no downtown occupation, which is
certainly not what one expects from gentlemen, who get low terms on the
silent understanding that they will take themselves out of the house
directly after breakfast. Nevertheless--will you believe it?--ten days
passed and not a word was said about payment. So one morning I stopped
him in the hall, as though for a pleasant talk. However, I was careful
to introduce the point, by means of an anecdote I told him, that guests
here were expected to pay by the week. Of course I supposed that the
hint would be sufficient."

"But it wasn't, alas?"

"On the contrary, ten days again passed, and you might suppose there was
no such thing as money in all this world. Then I resolved to approach
him directly. I knocked on his door, and when he opened it, I told him
plainly and in so many words that I would be very much gratified if he
would let me have a check whenever convenient, as unfortunately I had
heavy bills due that must be met. I was very much mortified, Sharlee! As
I stood there facing that young man, dunning him like a grocer's clerk,