CHAPTER XXIX. MRS. HAWKINS' BOARDING HOUSE. Mrs. Hawkins waited patiently until eight o'clock for the gentleman from Boston to come down to breakfast. She then waited impatiently from eight o'clock till nine. During that time she put the breakfast on the stove to keep it warm, and also made several trips to the front entry, where she listened to see if she could hear any signs of movement on the part of her new boarder. When nine o'clock arrived she could restrain her impatience no longer, and, going upstairs, she gave a sharp knock on the door of Quincy's room. "What is it?" answered a voice, somewhat sharply. "It's nine o'clock, and your breakfast's most dried up," replied Mrs. Hawkins. "I don't wish for any breakfast," said the voice within the room, but in a much pleasanter tone. "What time do you have dinner?" "Twelve o'clock," said Mrs. Hawkins. "All right," answered the voice, cheerfully. "I'll take my breakfast and dinner together." "That beats all," said Mrs. Hawkins, as she entered the kitchen. "What beats all?" asked Betsy Green, who worked for Mrs. Hawkins. "It beats all," repeated Mrs. Hawkins, "how these city folks can sit up till twelve o'clock at night, and then go without their breakfast till noontime. I've fixed up somethin' pretty nice for him, and I don't propose to see it wasted." "What are you goin' to do with it?" asked Betsy. "'Twon't keep till to-morrer mornin'." "I'm goin' to eat it myself," said Mrs. Hawkins. And suiting the action to the word, she transferred the appetizing breakfast to the kitchen table, and, taking a seat, began to devour it. "Have you seen your sister, Samanthy, lately?" she asked. "I was up there Sunday evening," replied Betsy, "and she said Mis' Putnam was failin' very fast. She keeps her bed all the time now, and Samanthy has to run up and down stairs, 'bout forty times a day. She won't let Miss Lindy do a thing for her." "Well, if I was Lindy," said Mrs. Hawkins, "I wouldn't do anything for her if she wanted me to. She used to abuse that child shamefully. Is Miss Lindy goin' to keep house arter her mother dies?" "No," said Betsy, "she's got her things all packed up, and she told Samanthy she should leave town for well and good as soon as her mother was buried." "I don't blame her," exclaimed Mrs. Hawkins. "Where's Samanthy goin'?" "Oh, she says she wants to rest awhile afore she goes anywheres else to live. She's all run down." "P'r'aps she'll go and stay with yer mother for a while." "No," said Betsy, "she won't go there." "Ain't yer mother 'n' her on good terms?" "Oh, yes," replied Betsy, "but the four boys send mother five dollars a month apiece, and us girls give her two dollars a month apiece, and it's understood that none of us is to go and loaf 'round at home, 'less we pay our board."