As soon as they had stepped off the porch Mabel seized Ellen’s hands. “Where did you meet him? Who is he? Tell me quick. That Mr. Clayton came on the boat. He got on at South Heartwell. He is a dear. I’m crazy about him. He is such an unaffected ingenuous sort of lamb. What do you think was his first question? Did I know how to make clam chowder? He said they wanted to dig some clams, and he could make the chowder if he had a good recipe. Oh, he is a babe, a darling infant. I never met any one quite like him.” Ellen laughed. “You certainly are bowled over, Mab. I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I get a chance. It’s a long story. Now you must have your supper. I know you must be starved. That trip on the boat does give one such an appetite.” “I wish it were clam chowder instead of lobster,” said Mabel as they sat down, “for then we could ask Mr. Clayton to have supper with us and see if he likes the kind of chowder we have.” “As if any one could possibly not like our kind; it’s the best ever,” retorted Ellen. “You can ask him for some other time; he won’t melt away.” “How do I know what he will or won’t do? If he stayed to-night, in common decency he’d have to come back.” “Then why not ask him to stay?” Miss Rindy spoke up. “I suppose he might put up with lobsters; they are not usually despised, and there is an abundance for all, your young friend, too, Ellen. It will be mighty handy to have them open that box.” The upshot of the matter was that when the young men returned with the mail they were urged to stay, the supper was supplemented by various supplies which the shoppers had brought from Portland, and all went merry as the traditional marriage bell. Miss Rindy promised to make chowder for them if they would supply the clams, and this offer brought forth an invitation to come to the studio and partake of a supper when the chowder should be the center of the feast. “I don’t suppose you have a place to cook it, or anything to cook it in,” scoffed Miss Rindy. “We have an excellent oil stove, a large iron pot, and various other utensils,” Reed boasted. “Suppose you all make a preliminary visit and take account of stock.” “And if anything is lacking, I can borrow it from my cousin,” Tom remarked. “Or, if the supply isn’t equal to the demand, we can bring our own dishes from here,” promised Mabel. “It’s a pretty long walk for an old limp-it like me,” objected Miss Rindy. “Limpet? You’re no limpet; they cling close to the rocks; I’m surprised at you making such a feeble joke,” said Mabel merrily. “I didn’t mean it for a joke; it’s a solemn fact,” replied Miss Rindy plaintively. “Oh, you needn’t walk,” declared Reed. “We’ll come around in the boat and get you. There is a good little landing just below the bridge, as I believe you are aware.” Then every one laughed, and Reed declared he would like to make a study of Ellen in a white dress and with goldenrod somewhere in the picture.