He found the lady alone, for old Mrs. Mayo had gone with her son, whose name was Abner, to visit a cousin in Harniss, and would not be back until late in the evening. Miss Patience was very glad to have company, and it required no great amount of urging to persuade the infatuated swain to stay to tea. When the meal was over--they washed the dishes together, and the Captain was so nervous that it is a wonder there was a whole plate left--the pair were seated in the parlor. Then said Captain Perez, turning red and hesitating, “Pashy, do you know what a feller told me 'bout you?” Now, this remark was purely a pleasant fiction, for the Captain was about to undertake a compliment, and was rather afraid to shoulder the entire responsibility. “No; I'm sure I don't, Perez,” replied Miss Davis, smiling sweetly. “Well, a feller told me you was the best housekeeper in Orham. He said that the man that got you would be lucky.” This was encouraging. Miss Patience colored and simpered a little. “Land sake!” she exclaimed. “Whoever told you such rubbish as that? Besides,” with downcast eyes, “I guess no man would ever want me.” “Oh, I don't know.” The Captain moved uneasily in his chair, as if he contemplated hitching it nearer to that occupied by his companion. “I guess there's plenty would be mighty glad to git you. Anyhow, there's--there's one that--that--I cal'late the fog's thick as ever, don't you?” But Miss Patience didn't mean to give up in this way. “What was it you was goin' to say?” she asked, by way of giving the bashful one another chance. “I was goin' to say, Pashy, that--that--I asked if you thought the fog was as thick as ever.” “Oh, dear me! Yes, I s'pose likely 'tis,” was the discouraged answer. “Seems to me I never see such weather for this time of year. The ice is all out of the bay, and there ain't a bit of wind, and it's warm as summer, pretty nigh. Kind of a storm-breeder, I'm afraid.” “Well, I'm glad you're here to keep me comp'ny. I've never been sole alone in this house afore, and I should be dreadful lonesome if you hadn't come.” This was offered as a fresh bait. “Pashy, I've got somethin' I wanted to ask you. Do you think you could--er--er--” “What, Perez?” “I wanted to ask you”--the Captain swallowed several times--“to ask you--What in the nation is that?” “Oh, that's nothin' only the hens squawkin'. Go on!” “Yes, but hens don't squawk this time of night 'thout they have some reason to. It's that fox come back; that's what 'tis.” Miss Patience, earlier in the evening, had related a harrowing tale of the loss of two of Mrs. Mayo's best Leghorns that had gone to furnish a Sunday meal for a marauding fox. As the said Leghorns were the pride of the old lady's heart, even the impending proposal was driven from Miss Davis' mind. “Oh, Perez! you don't s'pose 'tis the fox, do you?” “Yes, MA'AM, I do! Where's the gun?”