The judge's wife had naturally a very good complexion, but her face
flushed deeper as she looked inquiringly at the cobbler but said
nothing.

"I've seen him," said Sam,--"I can't help seein' things when I'm goin'
along in the street, you know, or happen to look out through the
windows,--I've seen him in company once in a while with that daughter
of yours, Mrs. Prency,--with that young lady that seems to me to be too
good to talk to any young man that lives in this town. He is very fond
of her, though; nobody can help seein' that."

"I suppose he is," said Mrs. Prency, with an embarrassed manner. "Young
men have very quick perceptions and correct tastes in matters of that
kind, you know."

"Yes, ma'am," said the cobbler, "and they don't differ much from young
women. Seems to me your daughter, ma'am, seems to think a good deal of
him, too. Well, I don't wonder at it, for he's the finest lookin' young
feller anywhere about here; an' if they go to thinkin' more and more of
each other as they go on, you would like him to be a good deal better
man than he is."

The judge's wife dropped her eyes and seemed in doubt for an instant as
to whether to be angry or only amused. Finally she looked up frankly
and said,

"Mr. Kimper, you're a parent and so am I. I see you have been putting
yourself in my place. It is quite natural that you should do so, and it
is very creditable to you that you have done it in the way you have.