me. He ain't likely to tend to stray jobs till he's done up his regular
chores."

"I s'pose Deacon Mason sends him down here to wait on you?" remarked
Strout with a sneer.

"Did Deacon Mason tell you that you could have him to run your errands?"
inquired Mandy, with a pout.

"Guess the best thing I can do," said Strout rising, "is to go hunt
Pettengill up myself."

"I guess you've struck it right this time," assented Mandy, as Strout
left the room and started for the wood-shed.

As he closed the door, Mandy resumed her singing as though such
conversations were of everyday occurrence.

She finished her work at the sink and was fixing the kitchen fire when
Hiram returned.

"All I could find," said he, holding an egg in each hand. "The hens must
have struck or think it's a holiday. S'pose there's any out in the barn?
Come, let's go look, Mandy. Where's old Strout?"

"I guess he's gone to look for Mr. Pettengill," replied Mandy, with a
laugh.

"I kinder thought he would if I stayed long enough," said Hiram, with a
grin; "but come along, Mandy, no hen fruit, no puddin'."