Mrs. Prior joined her guests in the parlor after the younger portion had gone to bed. "Well, how did you like the house?" she asked. "I hope we shall be able to make ourselves comfortable there," Mr. Keith answered, in a cheerful tone. "You can get possession right away, I s'pose." "Yes; and want to move in as quickly as possible, but must have some cleaning done first." Mrs. Prior recommended a woman for that without waiting to be asked, and offered to "send round" at once and see if she could be engaged for the next day. The offer was accepted with thanks and the messenger brought back word that Mrs. Rood would be at the house by six o'clock in the morning. "But," suggested Aunt Wealthy in dismay, "she'll want hot water, soap, cloths, scrubbing brushes!" "I'll lend a big iron kettle to heat the water," said the landlady; "a fire can be made in that kitchen fireplace, you know, or out doors, with the brush wood." "And brushes and soap can be had at the stores, I presume," suggested Mr. Keith. "Yes; and if they ain't open in time, I'll lend mine for her to start on." "Thank you very much," said Mrs. Keith. "But, Stuart, we may as well unpack our own; I can tell you just which box to open." "What a woman you are for doing things systematically, Marcia," he said, admiringly. "Yours is the best plan, I think. Can we be up in season to be on hand there at half-past five, think you?" "We can try," she answered brightly, "Mrs. Prior, where is your market?" "We haven't got to that yet, ma'am," replied the landlady, laughing and shaking her head. "No market? why how do you manage without?" "There's butcher shops where we can buy fresh meat once or twice a week--beef, veal, mutton, lamb, just whatever they happen to kill--and we put up our own salt pork, hams, dried beef, and so forth, and keep codfish and mackerel on hand. "Most folks have their own chickens, and the country people bring 'em in too; and butter and eggs and vegetables; though a good many town folks have garden sass of their own raisin'; keep a cow and make their own butter." "That's the most independent way," remarked Mr. Keith. "I think I must have a cow; if I can get a girl who can milk. Do you know of a good girl wanting a place, Mrs. Prior?" "I wish I did; but they're dreadful scarce sir; and so sassy! you can't keep 'em unless you let 'em come to the table with the family; and you must be mighty careful what you ask 'em to do." [Illustration] Chapter Seventh. "I feel my sinews slacken'd with the fright, And a cold sweat thrills down all o'er my limbs, As if I were dissolving into water." --DRYDEN'S TEMPEST.