about them. There were more plants in the western windows also, for the
sitting room occupied the whole width of the house at that point.
The pictures upon the wall were almost all of the sea, paintings of
schooners, and one of the "Barkentine Hawkeye, of Boston. Captain James
Phipps, leaving Surinam, August 12, 1872." The only variations from the
sea pictures were a "crayon-enlarged" portrait of a sturdy man with an
abundance of unruly gray hair and a chin beard, and a chromo labeled
"Sunset at Niagara Falls." The portrait bore sufficient resemblance to
Miss Martha Phipps to warrant Galusha's guess that it was intended to
portray her father, the "Cap'n Jim" of whom the doctor had spoken. The
chromo of "Sunset at Niagara Falls" was remarkable chiefly for its lack
of resemblance either to Niagara or a sunset.

He was inspecting this work of art when Miss Phipps entered the room.
She was surprised to see him.

"Mercy on us!" she exclaimed. "WHAT in the world are you doin'
downstairs here?"

Galusha blushed guiltily and hastened to explain that he was feeling
quite himself, really, and so had, of course, risen and--ah--dressed.

"But I do hope, Miss Phipps," he added, "that I haven't kept you waiting
breakfast. I'm afraid I have."

She laughed at the idea. "Indeed you haven't," she declared. "If you
don't mind my sayin' so, Mr. Bangs, the angel Gabriel couldn't keep me
waitin' breakfast till half past nine on a Saturday mornin'. Primmie and
I were up at half-past six sharp. That is, I got up then and Primmie was
helped up about five minutes afterward. But what I want to know," she