"Why not? That corset cover's a dream! An' then there's them--" "Dear, I couldn't--I wouldn't! No, I'll go to him just as I am--he shall marry me just like I am--" "An' that's a goddess!" nodded Mrs. Trapes, "yes, a young goddess--only, with more clo'es on, o' course. I'm glad as he's quit peanuts; peanut men don't kind o' jibe in with goddesses." "Ann," said Hermione, sitting back on her heels, "I think of him a great deal, of course, and--just lately--I've begun to wonder--" "My dear," said Mrs. Trapes, blowing her tea, "so do I! I been wonderin' ever since he walked into my flat, cool as I don't know what, an', my dear, when I sets me mind t' wonderment, conclusions arrive--constant! I'll tell ye what I think. First, he ain't s' poor as he seems--he wears silk socks, my dear. Second, he's been nurtured tender--he cleans them white teeth night an' morn. Third, he ain't done no toil-an'-spinnin' act--take heed t' his hands, my dear. He's soft-spoke but he's masterful. He's young, but he's seen a lot. He ain't easy t' rile, but when he is--my land! He don't say a lot, an' he don't seem t' do much, an' yet--he don't seem t' starve none. Result--he may be anything!" "Anything? Ann, dear!" "Anything!" repeated Mrs. Trapes. "An' havin' studied him good an' heeded him careful, I now conclood he's jest the thing you need, my dear." "Then you like him, Ann--you trust him?" "I sure do." "Oh, you dear--dear--dear thing!" And once again Mrs. Trapes was clasped in those vigorous young arms and kissed with every "dear." "Though, mind you," said Mrs. Trapes, pushing cup and saucer out of harm's way, "though, mind you, he's a mystery I ain't found out--yet. D' ye s'pose he made any money out o' them blessed peanuts--not him! Mrs. Smalley, as lives down along 'Leventh, she told me as she's seen him givin' 'em away by the bagful t' all the children down her way--repeated!" "How sweet of him!" said Hermione, her red mouth all tender curves. "Yes, but how did he live? How does he? How will he?" "I don't know, dear; I only know I would trust him always--always!" And sitting back, chin in hand, Hermione fell again to happy thought. "When he give up the nuts," pursued Mrs. Trapes, draining the teapot and sighing, "he tells me some fool tale of makin' a deal in real estate, an' I--ha, real estate!" Mrs. Trapes put down the teapot with a jerk. "A deal in real estate!" she repeated, and thereafter fell to such unintelligible mutterings as "Record price! Fab'lous! No, it couldn't be! An' yet--silk socks! 'On an' after above date all tenants soever residin'--will be re-dooced by fifty per cent!'" Suddenly Mrs. Trapes sat bolt upright. "My land!" she ejaculated, "oh, dear land o' my fathers--if sech could be!" "Why, Ann," exclaimed Hermione, roused from her reverie, "whatever is the matter?"