By William O. Stoddard.
CHAPTER V.
During the week which followed the wedding-day, the improvements on the Morris house were pushed along in a way that surprised everybody.
Every day that passed, and with every dollar's worth of work that was done, the good points of the long-neglected old mansion came out stronger and stronger; for Mrs. Kinzer's plans had been a good while getting ready, and she knew exactly what was best to be done.
Before the end of the week Mr. Foster came over, bringing Ford with him, and he soon arrived at an understanding with Dabney's mother.
"A very business-like, common-sense sort of a woman," he remarked to his son. "But what a great, dangling, overgrown piece of a boy that is. Still, you may find him good company."
"No doubt," said Ford, "and thus I can be useful to him. He looks as if he could learn if he had a fair chance."
"I should say so," responded Mr. Foster, thoughtfully; "and we mustn't expect too much of fellows brought up away out here, as he has been."
Ford gravely assented.