witty remarks had attracted to her side more suitors than had fallen to
the lot of any other young girl in the village. As yet she had evinced
no especial liking for any particular one of the young men who flocked
about her, and this fact had only served to increase their admiration
for her and to spur them on to renewed efforts to win her favor.

"Do you know, Miss James," said Samuel, "I can't get it out of my ears
yet." As he said this, he leaned over the counter, and being a brave
young man, looked straight into Miss James's smiling face.

"If all home remedies have failed," said Tilly, "why don't you go to
Boston and have a doctor examine them?"

"What a joker you are!" remarked Samuel; "I believe you will crack a
joke on the minister the day you are married."

"It may be my last chance," rejoined Tilly. "Mother says the inside of a
boiled onion put into the ear is good for some troubles; give me a pound
of tea, Oolong and green mixed, same as we always have."

As Samuel passed the neatly done up package to Miss James, he leaned
across the counter again and said in a low voice, "You know what is in
my ears, Miss James. How beautifully you played for Mr. Sawyer when he
whistled 'Listen to the Mocking Bird.' I don't think I shall ever forget
it."

"Well, I don't know about the playing, Mr. Hill. I came near losing my
place several times, because I wanted so much to hear him whistle."

During this conversation Tilly and Samuel had been so preoccupied that