He smote the one nearest him with a jocular palm. There followed the
hollow sound of dropping plaster from behind the lath.

"Guess we'd better fix things up between us, so you won't be noways
disappointed in case that other party--" he added, with a crafty
glance at the minister. "You see, he might turn up 'most any day."

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed the girl, walking hurriedly to the door. "I--I
should like to go at once."

She turned and held out her hand to the minister with a smile.

"Thank you for coming," she said. "I wanted you to see the house as
it is now."

He looked down into her upturned face with its almost childish appeal
of utter candor, frowning slightly.

"Have you no one--that is, no near relative to advise you in the
matter?" he asked. "The purchase of a large property, such as this,
ought to be carefully considered, I should say."

Deacon Whittle coughed in an exasperated manner.

"I guess we'd better be gitting along," said he, "if we want to catch
Jedge Fulsom in his office before he goes to dinner."

Lydia turned obediently.