“But he isn't SURE,” Evelina continued, absently pushing the teapot toward her sister. “It may be something wrong with the--I forget what he called it. Anyhow, he said he'd call round and see, day after to-morrow, after supper.” “Who said?” gasped Ann Eliza. “Why, Mr. Ramy, of course. I think he's real nice, Ann Eliza. And I don't believe he's forty; but he DOES look sick. I guess he's pretty lonesome, all by himself in that store. He as much as told me so, and somehow”--Evelina paused and bridled--“I kinder thought that maybe his saying he'd call round about the clock was on'y just an excuse. He said it just as I was going out of the store. What you think, Ann Eliza?” “Oh, I don't har'ly know.” To save herself, Ann Eliza could produce nothing warmer. “Well, I don't pretend to be smarter than other folks,” said Evelina, putting a conscious hand to her hair, “but I guess Mr. Herman Ramy wouldn't be sorry to pass an evening here, 'stead of spending it all alone in that poky little place of his.” Her self-consciousness irritated Ann Eliza. “I guess he's got plenty of friends of his own,” she said, almost harshly. “No, he ain't, either. He's got hardly any.” “Did he tell you that too?” Even to her own ears there was a faint sneer in the interrogation. “Yes, he did,” said Evelina, dropping her lids with a smile. “He seemed to be just crazy to talk to somebody--somebody agreeable, I mean. I think the man's unhappy, Ann Eliza.” “So do I,” broke from the elder sister. “He seems such an educated man, too. He was reading the paper when I went in. Ain't it sad to think of his being reduced to that little store, after being years at Tiff'ny's, and one of the head men in their clock-department?” “He told you all that?” “Why, yes. I think he'd a' told me everything ever happened to him if I'd had the time to stay and listen. I tell you he's dead lonely, Ann Eliza.” “Yes,” said Ann Eliza. III Two days afterward, Ann Eliza noticed that Evelina, before they sat down to supper, pinned a crimson bow under her collar; and when the meal was finished the younger sister, who seldom concerned herself with the clearing of the table, set about with nervous haste to help Ann Eliza in the removal of the dishes. “I hate to see food mussing about,” she grumbled. “Ain't it hateful having to do everything in one room?” “Oh, Evelina, I've always thought we was so comfortable,” Ann Eliza protested. “Well, so we are, comfortable enough; but I don't suppose there's any harm in my saying I wisht we had a parlour, is there? Anyway, we might manage to buy a screen to hide the bed.” Ann Eliza coloured. There was something vaguely embarrassing in Evelina's suggestion. “I always think if we ask for more what we have may be taken from us,” she ventured. “Well, whoever took it wouldn't get much,” Evelina retorted with a laugh as she swept up the table-cloth.