house--fix it up just as 'twas. She says that's th' correct thing to
do. 'Why, shucks!' I sez, 'the wall papers they're gettin' out now is
a lot handsomer than them old style papers. You don't want no old
stuff like that,' I sez. But, I swan! you can't tell that girl
nothing, for all she seems so mild and meachin'. I was wonderin' if
you couldn't shove some sense into her, Abby. Now, I'd like th' job
of furnishin' up that house with new stuff. 'I don't carry a very big
stock of furniture,' I sez to her; but--"

"Why, Hen-ery Daggett!" reproved his wife, "an' you a reg'lar
professing member of the church! You ain't never carried no stock of
furniture in the store, and you know it."

"That ain't no sign I ain't never goin' to, Abby," retorted Mr.
Daggett with spirit. "We been stuck right down in the mud here in
Brookville since that dratted bank failed. Nobody's moved, except to
the graveyard. And here comes along a young woman with money ... I'd
like mighty well to know just how much she's got an' where it come
from. I asked the Judge, and he says, blamed if he knows.... But this
'ere young female spells op-per-tunity, Abby. We got to take
advantage of the situation, Abby, same as you do in blackberrying
season: pick 'em when they're ripe; if you don't, the birds and the
bugs'll get 'em."

"It don't sound right to me, papa," murmured his wife, her kind face
full of soft distress: "Taking advantage of a poor young thing, like
her, an' all in mourning, too, fer a near friend. She told Lois so
... Dear, dear!"

Mr. Daggett had filled his morning pipe and was puffing energetically