milk were articles very scantily supplied at Mother Atterson's
table.

The mistress herself did not appear. Now that he was down here
in the dining-room, Hiram lingered. He hated the thought of
going up to his lonely and narrow quarters at the top of the
house.

The other boarders trailed out of the room and up stairs, one
after another, Old Lem Camp being the last to go. Sister brought
in a dish of hot toast between two plates and set it at the upper
end of the table. Then Mrs. Atterson appeared.

Hiram knew at once that something had gone wrong with the
boarding house mistress. She had been crying, and when a woman
of the age of Mrs. Atterson indulges in tears, her personal
appearance is never improved.

"Oh, that you, Hi?" she drawled, with a snuffle. "Did you get
enough to eat?"

"Yes, Mrs. Atterson," returned the youth, starting to get up. "I
have had plenty."

"I'm glad you did," said the lady. "And you're easy 'side of
most of 'em, Hiram. You're a real good boy."

"I reckon I get all I pay for, Mrs. Atterson," said her youngest
boarder.