went away a little soberly in spite of his triumph. Would there be any
danger to Benjamin from the agitation of the interview? He must ask
Willy King. Then he remembered that the doctor had started for
Philadelphia that morning; so there was nothing to do but wait. "I'm
afraid there's some risk," he thought. "But Benjamin had better die in
peace than live in anger. Oh, this play-writing business! If I could
only depend on him to hold his tongue about it; but I can't." Then as
he and Goliath trudged along in the sun, he gave himself up to his own
rejoicings. "To think I was afraid to let him know that Mrs. Richie
could be depended upon to help us!" He looked up as if in smiling
confession to some unseen Friend. "Yes, indeed; 'He taketh the wise in
their own craftiness.' It was the promise of Mrs. Richie's help that
scared him into it! I won't be so crafty next time," he promised in
loving penitence.




CHAPTER XIV


In the stage the day he started for Philadelphia, William King read
over his Martha's memorandum with the bewildered carefulness peculiar
to good husbands: ten yards of crash; a pitcher for sorghum; samples
of yarn; an ounce of sachet-powder, and so forth.

"Now, what on earth does she want sachet-powder for?" he reflected.
But he did not reflect long; it suddenly came into his mind that
though Mrs. Richie had not given him any commission, he could
nevertheless do something for her. He could go, when he was in