boarders, let him rent it with furniture as it stands. She
and Mrs. Octagon are going back to town, and Mrs. Pill is
going to have the cottage cleaned from cellar to attic before
she marries Thomas and receives the boarder."

"Oh. So she has a boarder?"

"Yes, sir. She wouldn't agree to Thomas taking the cottage as
her husband, unless she had a boarder to start with, being
afraid she and Thomas could not pay the rent. So Thomas saw
Mr. Clancy and he is coming to stop. He has taken all the
part where Miss Loach lived, and doesn't want anyone else in
the house, being a quiet man and retired."

"Ah! Ah! Ah!" said Jennings in three different tones of voice.
"I think Mrs. Pill is very wise. I hope she and Thomas will
do well. By the way, what do you think of Mr. Barnes?"

Susan did not leave him long in doubt as to her opinion. "I
think he is a stupid fool," she said, "and it's a good thing
Mrs. Pill is going to marry him. He was guided by Miss Loach
all his life, and now she's dead, he goes about like a gaby.
One of those men, sir," explained Susan, "as needs a woman to
look after them. Not like that gentleman," she cast a tender
glance at the door, "who can protect the weakest of my sex."

Jennings having learned all he could, rose. "Well, Miss
Grant," he said quietly, "I am obliged to you for your frank
speaking. My advice to you is to go home and think no more of
Mr. Mallow. You might as well love the moon. But you know my