"Alone? Oho, she's engaged to me!"

"I know that," said the stranger, who seemed to be initiated into
all the doings of this household. "And I am an old man - all I
meant was that I would rather not have any of the other servants
about."

"I'll keep the cook out of the way if you want me to."

"That would be a good idea. It isn't easy to talk, business before
others," remarked the old man as they entered the room. It was a
comfortably furnished and cozily warm apartment. Only two people
were there, an old woman and a pretty young girl, who both looked
up in astonishment as the men came in.

"Who's this you're bringing in, George?" asked Nanette.

"He's a peddler and he's got some trifles here you might like to
look at."

"Why, yes, you wanted a thimble, didn't you, Lena?" asked Nanette,
and the cook beckoned to the peddler. "Let's see what you've got
there," she said in a friendly tone. The old man pulled out his
wares from his pack; thimbles and scissors, coloured ribbons, silks,
brushes and combs, and many other trifles. When the women had made
their several selections they noticed that the old man was shivering
with the cold, as he leaned against the stove. Their sympathies
were aroused in a moment. "Why don't you sit down?" asked Nanette,
pushing a chair towards him, and Lena rose to get him something