"Quite new, and it looks as if they had been selected for someone's library. We'll have a good time looking them over when they get here. Here's something else for your consideration, Linda: Berk Matthews went with me. He is the greatest one to tease. I met him on the street and couldn't get rid of him. I didn't want him to go to the sale, but the more I tried to shake him off, the more determined he was to stay with me, and finally I had to let him go along. Well, he became interested, too. Oh, I have a joke on him. He bought a trunk." "A trunk?" "Yes, a nice little compact trunk, which he says will be just the thing for him to take when he goes off with Judge Baker. It has the letters J. S. D. on it, which Berk declares mean 'Judge Some Day,' and he doesn't mean to change them. He is a nonsensical creature." "What is in the trunk?" "Oh, he hadn't opened it; for, of course, he had no key. He was in a hurry to see his mother and sister, and didn't want to bother with the trunk then. He is going to stay over till Sunday. That is a good son, Verlinda. I wish you could see the beautiful little desk he bought for his mother's birthday. I went with him to pick it out. It is on account of the birthday that he went up to the city. I am firmly convinced that he will not marry until he can give his mother just as much as he gives his wife." "That would be expecting a little too much, wouldn't it?" "Not from Berk's present point of view. Nothing is too good for that mother of his, and when Margaret was married, well, no girl in town could have had a better outfit. I don't believe Berk has had even a new necktie since." "Then I'll crochet him one for a Christmas gift," said Linda smiling. "What color would you suggest?" "A dull blue would be becoming to his style of beauty." "Not much beauty there." "Not exactly beauty, maybe, but Berk looks every inch a man." "And not any superfluous inches, unless you measure his shoulders and take him in square measure." "Well, Verlinda, you must admit he has a fine, honest face." "So has Brownie, Miss Parthy's setter." "That is just like a foolish girl. I'll venture to say you think Mr. Jeffreys much better looking." "Far handsomer. By the way--no, I'll not tell you; I'll let him do that." "You rouse my curiosity. Tell me." "I don't need to, for here comes the young man himself." Mr. Jeffreys was seen coming up between the borders of box which led from Miss Parthy's back fence to Miss Ri's back door. He skirted the chrysanthemum beds, and came around to the front door, Miss Ri watching him the while. "Berk would have bolted in through the kitchen," she commented. "I don't suppose anything would induce Mr. Jeffreys to be seen coming in the back door. I am surprised that he did as much as to come in through the garden." She went to the door to meet him.