Of course, first of all there was Uncle Joe Stagg, looking wonderfully young and prosperous, ready to hand them into Tim the hackman's turnout for the drive to the Corners. "You're looking well, Hannah," said Uncle Joe. "And if Car'lyn looked any better we should have to take her to the doctor at once." "Pitcher of George Washington!" gasped the hack driver, "how that young 'un has growed! And here's Prince that tackled that consarned wood-pussy that time. Lively as one of his own fleas, ain't he? Wal, Hannah Stagg, I admire to see ye. This here model of yourn is better knowed in Sunrise Cove and at the Corners than ever you was when you was a gal." "Yes, Uncle Tim. I fancy Carolyn is more popular up here than I ever was. But, then, Carolyn May is popular everywhere." The little girl did not notice this. She rode with half of her body out of the carriage window, waving her hand and calling greetings to people whom she knew along the main street. And when they came to Uncle Joe's hardware store there was Chet Gormley, one huge and complete smile, standing on the porch beside the agricultural tools and rolls of poultry netting, and looking, as Uncle Joe said, almost as fat as a rake handle. He wore a starched white suit and a flowing red tie and shoes that were very yellow. It was evident that Chet had dressed for the occasion. "Oh, Chet," cried Carolyn May, "how nice you look! And you've gro-o-own--" "Up and down ways--ye-as," agreed the gangling youth. "They don't make overalls no longer than I be now. Maw's got to buy bed tickin' and make 'em for me herself if I grow any more." While Mr. Stagg was in the store for a moment and Hannah Cameron was speaking with somebody she knew through the other window of Tim's hack, Chet drew near to Carolyn May and confided to her: "You see how your uncle trusts things to me now, don't you? Sometimes I'm here all day by myself. Why, if I didn't know my job as well as I do, folks might think Mr. Joseph Stagg was neglectin' his business since he got married." "Oh, I am sure you are perfectly able to tend the store, Chet," said the little girl admiringly. "Of course. I'm ready any time Mr. Stagg wants to change the sign to 'Stagg and Gormley' to do my full share," declared the lanky youth, nodding his head seriously. If Chet really was of as much importance as he thought he was to the hardware dealer, the latter could not have done business when the youth was not in the store. Nevertheless, Chet was to be commended for his faithfulness and for the interest he took in his employer's affairs. It was very surprising to see Joseph Stagg leave the store a full two hours before supper time and ride home with his sister and Carolyn, as though such neglect of business was quite a matter of course.