"Well," Mr. Treat said with a long-drawn sigh, as if pained because he had been prevented from performing a charitable act, "I can't help it if the old woman wants sich a cow as Sarah Souders would buy when she can get a good one from me by puttin' out a little money."
Then the worthy post master took the letter Jack handed him, scrutinized it carefully, asked if Aunt Nancy was thinking of putting an advertisement in the papers for summer boarders, and, on receiving a non-committal answer, finally dropped it in the mail bag.
Jack had waited to see this last act performed, and when the missive disappeared he hurried home.
It so chanced that he did not arrive there as soon as he had expected.
While passing Mr. Dean's house Bill came out and hailed him with,—
"Say, Hunchie, is the old maid waitin' for me to come 'round so she can talk Sunday school?"
"Aunt Nancy doesn't do anything of the kind. If you knowed her as well as I do you'd be mighty glad to be where she was."
"I ain't sayin' that isn't so, an' don't be s'prised if you see me up there pretty soon."
"No, for it might give the old woman too much of a shock. I only thought I'd let you know so's you wouldn't get frightened when I came inter the yard," and with this remark Master Dean re-entered the house, probably thinking he had paved the way in a very delicate manner for a visit to the little woman whom he had so often held up to ridicule.