"He does look knowing. Benjamin, I just dropped in to tell you that I think you needn't worry so about Sam's Sam. Your neighbor has promised Willy King that she will help us with him. But I want you to talk the matter over with Samuel, and--" "My _neighbor?_" the older man interrupted, his lower lip dropping with dismay. "Ye don't mean--the female at the Stuffed Animal House?" "Yes; Mrs. Richie. She will snub him if it's necessary, William says; but she'll help us, by urging him to attend to his business. See?" "I see--more than you do!" cried Benjamin Wright. "Much Willy King has accomplished! It's just what I've always said;--if you want a thing done, do it yourself. It's another case of these confounded canaries. If they are not to be eaten up by some devilish cat, I've got to sit out here and watch over 'em. If that boy is not to be injured, I've got to watch over him. My neighbor is going to help? Gad-a-mercy! Help!" Dr. Lavendar took off his broad-brimmed felt hat and wiped his forehead with his big red bandanna. "Benjamin, what's got into you? A little being in love won't hurt him. Why, before I was his age I had lost my heart to my grandmother's first cousin!" But the older man was not listening. His anger had suddenly hardened into alarm; he even forgot the canaries. "She's going to help? Lavendar, this is serious; it is very serious. He's got to be sent away!--if I have to see"--his voice trailed into a whisper; he looked at Dr. Lavendar with startled eyes. The green cock hopped down into his glass tub and began to ruffle and splash, but Benjamin Wright did not notice him. Dr. Lavendar beamed. "You mean you'll see his father?" The very old man nodded. "Yes; I'll have to see--my son." "Thank God!" said Dr. Lavendar. "Dominie," said Mr. Wright, "it's better to make your manners when you've got your 'baccy.' Yes; I'll have to see--his father; if there's no other way of getting him out of town?" "Of course there's no other way. Sam won't go without his father's consent. But you mustn't make play-writing the excuse; you mustn't talk about that." "I won't talk about anything else," said Benjamin Wright. Dr. Lavendar sighed, but he did not encourage perversity by arguing against it. "Benjamin," he said, "I will tell Samuel of your wish to see him--" "My _wish!_" Dr. Lavendar would not notice the interruption. "Will you appoint the time?"