"Well, Mis' Steele, I don't know what to do. Reuben says I ought to have
a hired girl; but I hain't no more idea where to get one than anything,
an' I don't know's I want one, if I did."

And Mrs. Gray sat back in her chair and rocked violently to and fro,
eying her hostess with the evident consciousness of having presented a
poser. That resourceful woman, however, was far from being nonplussed;
she beamed upon her visitor with a joyful smile.

"Just the thing, my dear Mrs. Gray! You know I am to go South with May
for the winter. The house will be closed and the doctor at the hotel. I
had just been wondering what to do with Nancy, for I want her again in
the spring. Now, you can have her until then, and by that time you will
know how you like the idea of keeping a girl. She is a perfect treasure,
capable of carrying along the entire work of the household, only"--and
Mrs. Steele paused long enough to look doubtfully at her friend--"she is
a little independent, and won't stand much interference."

Fifteen minutes later Mrs. Gray departed, well pleased though withal a
little frightened. She spent the rest of the afternoon in trying to
decide between a black alpaca and a green cashmere dress.

That night Reuben brought home a large bag of peanuts and put them down
in triumph on the kitchen table.

"There!" he announced in high glee, "I'm goin' to have a bang-up good
time!"

"Why, Reuben," remonstrated his wife gently, "you can't eat them things--