INS AND OUTS OF THE MATTER 337 



Whichever it was, he felt wretched in body and 

 mind, and began to think himself neglected and was 

 consequently aggrieved. He hesitated a few minutes 

 before he opened the door leading to The Man's part 

 of the house, took a few steps into the square hall, and 

 called "Mr. Blake" in a quavering voice; but no an- 

 swer came, as the bachelor had not yet returned from 

 the reservoir. 



Going back, he settled heavily into the rocking- 

 chair and groaned, it was not from real pain, simply 

 he had relaxed his grip and was making himself mis- 

 erable, then he began to talk to himself. 



"She doesn't come hi so often now he's come home, 

 and he fights shy o' the place, thinkin' mebbe she's 

 around, and they both wants to buy. He's offered 

 me thirty-five hundred cash, and she's offered me 

 thirty hundred cash, which is all the place's worth, 

 for it'll take another ten hundred to straighten out 

 the house, with new winder frames, floorin' 'nd plaster 

 'nd shingles, beams and sills all bein' sound, when 

 the truth is I don't wish ter sell nohow, yet can't afford 

 to hold! I don't see light noway 'nd I'm feelin' 

 another turn comin' when I was nigh ready ter git 

 about agin to Miss'ss Penrose flower poles. O 

 lordy ! lordy ! I wish I had some more o' that settling 



