"I wonder why that is, now!" pondered Miss Chubb, when Rhoda was gone. And very probably Rhoda could not have told her why.
Old Maxfield duly paid his visit to Miss Chubb. The good-natured little woman waited at home all day lest she should miss him. And about an hour after her early dinner Mr. Maxfield sent in his respects, and would be glad to have a word with her if she were at leisure.
"I hope you will overlook the intrusion, ma'am," said Maxfield, standing up with his hat in his hand, just inside the door of the little sitting-room, where Miss Chubb asked him to walk in.
"No intrusion at all, Mr. Maxfield! I'm very glad to see you. Please to sit down."
He obeyed, and holding his thick stick upright before him, and his hat on his knees, he thus began:
"I'm not a-going to waste your time and mine with vain and worldly discourse, ma'am. I am a man as knows the value of time, thanks be! And I have a serious matter on my mind. You know my daughter Rhoda?"
"I know Rhoda, and like her, and admire her very much."
"Yes; Rhoda is a girl such as you don't see many like her. There's a young man seeking her in marriage."
"I'm not surprised at that!"
"No; there has been several others too. But she gave 'em no encouragement; nor should I have been willing that she should. Some of them were persons in my own rank of life, and that would not do for Rhoda."