"It was this way. My wife had a friend that she thought the world of. Well, she thought the world of me too, and when it come time for her to go, nothin' to it but I must marry this woman. The night before 'Liza was taken, she says to me, 'Ivory,' she says, 'I've left it in writin' that if you marry Elviry you'll get that two thousand dollars that's in the bank; and if not it goes to the children.' Children was married and settled, two of 'em, and well fixed. 'I want you to promise me you will!' she says."
"And did you?" asked Calvin.
"No, I didn't. I warn't goin' to tie myself up again. I'd been married thirty years, and that was enough."
"What did you say, if I may ask?"
"I said I'd think about it, and let her know in the mornin'. I knew she'd be gone by then, and she was."
Again they watched the boiling in silence. Calvin looked somewhat disturbed.
"But yet you liked the married state?" he asked presently.
"Fust-rate!" said Mr. Cheeseman placidly. He glanced at Calvin; stirred the candy, and glanced again.
"You ain't married, I think, friend Parks?"
"N—no!" said Calvin slowly. "I ain't; but—fact is, I'm wishful to be, but I don't see my way to it."