“Good-evenin’, widder,” said Silas, coughing.

“Good-evening, Mr. Tripp. Won’t you step in for a few minutes?”

“Thank you. I don’t care if I do. I heard yesterday from Mrs. Greene that you’d lost your boarder.”

“Yes; Miss Dolby has gone to Chicago for a year. She has a sister there.”

“Do you expect her back?”

“Yes, after a year.”

“I wouldn’t calc’late too much upon it if I were you. Women folks is mighty onsartin when they make promises.”

Mrs. Rand smiled.

“You may be right, Mr. Tripp,” she said.

“I hear, too, that Chester’s lost his place.”