was so great that she took herself into her own confidence, and found a
more sympathetic listener than when she talked to her husband. As she now
whisked about her room in her bed-gown with an activity not predicable of
her age and shape, and finally plunged under the covering and drew it up
to her chin with one hand while she pressed it out decorously over her
person with the other, she kept up a rapid flow of lamentation and
conjecture. "I do suppose he'll be right back with her before I'm half
ready; and what the man was thinkin' of to do such a thing anyway, I
don't know. I don't know as she'll notice much, comin' out of such a
lookin' place as that, and I don't know as I need to care if she did. But
if the'e's care anywhe's around, I presume I'm the one to have it. I
presume I did take a fancy to her, and I guess I shall be glad to see how
I like her now; and if he's only told her I want some sewin' done, I can
scrape up something to let her carry home with her. It's well I keep my
things where I can put my hand on 'em at a time like this, and I don't
believe I shall sca'e the child, as it is. I do hope Albe't won't hang
round half the day before he brings her; I like to have a thing ova."

Lander wandered about looking for the girl through the parlors and the
piazzas, and then went to the office to ask what had become of her.

The landlord came out of his room at his question to the clerk. "Oh, I
guess she's round in my wife's room, Mr. Landa. She always likes to see
Clementina, and I guess they all do. She's a so't o' pet amongst 'em."

"No hurry," said Lander, "I guess my wife ain't quite ready for her yet."

"Well, she'll be right out, in a minute or so," said the landlord.

The old man tilted his hat forward over his eyes, and went to sit on the