“Yes, if it wasn’t the Sabbath,” said he, “or if my grass land was a leetle further away.” “Mr. Adams,” said I, “I picked something up the other day that I think belongs to you.” His manner, which had been warm, became frigid as he said, “I guess not. I haven’t missed anything.” “Isn’t this yours?” said I, producing the pipe. He looked me coldly in the eye and said, “I never saw that before.” I, on my part, saw something that I had not seen before. I put the pipe into my pocket, feeling that I had put my foot in it. Anxious to make amends, I pulled out a cigar and said, “Have one.” Relaxing, he accepted it and biting off the end he put it in his mouth. “Got a match,” said I without thinking. “Thank you, yes,” said he turning away his head. I lighted a cigar and we puffed silently for a minute or two. “Weather’s been hot enough lately, to drive a man to drink,” said I. “Better take your pipe and think no more about it.” “Thank you,” said he, as he put it into his pocket. And we became good friends from that hour. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER XVIII WE FIND A PIANO. AS matters were now running so swimmingly with us, Ethel invited an old school friend of hers to come and pay us a visit. Miss Paxton, “Cherry,” as most of her friends call her, is an unusually talented woman. She can draw very well indeed, and she can play the piano in an almost professional way. Tall and slender, with a facial animation that is almost beauty, she is a general favorite by virtue of her buoyant spirits and readiness for whatever is going on. When Minerva heard that she was coming up she clapped her hands and said, “_My_-oh-my! I’m glad to hear she’s comin’. Now we will have music.” She meant piano music, for Miss Paxton did not sing. But we had no piano. I had not thought it worth while to get one, because Ethel, while very fond of music and with a cultivated taste for it, is not able to play. Her father thought that so many people now-a-days play the piano badly, that it was just as well not to play it at all, and he would never hear of her taking lessons. As Miss Paxton was only going to be up a week, it did not seem to be worth while sending to Springfield for a piano. I did not know at the time that there was a wareroom in Egerton.