All them hoods do make herhead look like a punkin
on a stick.
No; Im muchobliged to you, Banks, but you cant
afford to meddle with it.
Afteryou made a fuss over that tambour desk I was
sure of it.
I had a little, about a hundred and twenty
dollars.
In May of thatyear he sold a sideboard to a
customer.
Tadgett says he sold you that sideboard and that
atthe time you liked it and accepted it.
Tadgett didnt tell you thatyou were expected to pay
for it, he said. Ive given up my Boston plan; Im going to try my luckhere at home.
He began his story, at first mentioning no names.
Taint the tambour, by no means, said Tadgett, but
maybe youcan make out with it for a spell.
Then you wont come here to-morrow
morning?
Between readings he lookedout of the windows. You
ought to look like an able seamaneven if you are a green hand. So the crust was
rubbed off and the little room became much lighterin consequence. She is friendly
with the Lathrops and the Badgers andCapt.
You cant afford tomeddle with it for your own
sake.
Truman had ignored herutterly and the girl was
feeling decidedly awkward and out ofplace.
He had paid the original owner with his own
money.
ThenI walked up and down the beach for two or three
hours, thinkingagain.
This customer hadcommissioned him to find an
American board, a good one, Sheratontype preferred.
Thereal point I stick on is away one side of the
money part.
If I want you to go later Ill let you know. Mother,
he said, I suppose anybody inDenboro who dared to say Dum when Mrs. Truman would do
and sayto her when they got home.
You see, I rememberher as she used to be, clever
and full of book learnin.
I thought it out for myself and I did
it.
But he couldsee that she was pleased, nevertheless.
So thats what you and he talked about, Abijah, she observed. Mother, he said at the
supper table that evening, do you knowMrs. Soon as Ifound you didnt like Hettie
Bradford, I knew it.