"Don't know; there never used to be! Mrs. Popham has been ailing for
years,--she couldn't die; and Deacon Todd wouldn't!" Dick's old
animosities still lingered faintly in his memory, though his laughing
voice and the twinkle in his eyes showed plainly that no bitterness
was left. "How's business with you, David?"

"Only so-so. I've had the devil's own luck lately. Can't get anything
that suits me or that pays a decent income. I formed a new connection
the other day, but I can't say yet what there is in it. I'm just out
of hospital; operation; they cut out the wrong thing first, I believe,
sewed me up absent-mindedly, then remembered it was the other thing,
and did it over again. At any rate, that's the only way I can account
for their mewing me up there for two months."

"Well, well, that is hard luck! I'm sorry, old boy! Things didn't
begin to go my way either till within the last few months. I've always
made a fair living and saved a little money, but never gained any real
headway. Now I've got a first-rate start and the future looks pretty
favorable, and best of all, pretty safe.--No trouble at home calls you
back to Beulah? I hope Letty is all right?" Dick cast an anxious side
glance at David, though he spoke carelessly.

"Oh, no! Everything's serene, so far as I know. I'm a poor
correspondent, especially when I've no good news to tell; and anyway,
the mere sight of a pen ties my tongue. I'm just running down to
surprise Letty."

Dick looked at David again. He began to think he didn't like him. He
used to, when they were boys, but when he brought that unaccountable