"I've had a most charming morning, for which I thank you," he said. And drawing two of the largest blooms from the bunch of lilies, he laid the rest on the gate-post. "You will have to take them," he added. "And now I have something else to propose. I own a small yacht. It is anchored down near the wharf. How would you like a sail to-morrow? I shall be highly pleased to have you for my guest. Will you go?" But Chip was not caught so easily. "I'll go if you will ask Aunt Abby also," she answered, "not otherwise." "Why, of course," he responded graciously, "that is understood." And still unruffled by this parting evidence of distrust, he bowed himself away. CHAPTER XXXV "A girl with a new ring allus hez trouble with her hair." --Old Cy Walker. _As_ might be expected, Chip gave Aunt Abby a full recital of her morning's episode as soon as she entered the house, and with it her comments upon this smooth-spoken young man. "He reeled off flattery by the yard," she said, "and no matter how I took it, or how sharply I set him back, he kept at it. The way he piled it on was almost funny, just as though he thought I believed it. Of course I didn't, not a word, and what's more I wouldn't trust him farther than I could see him. He's got shifty eyes, and Cy once told me never to believe a man with such eyes. He wants me to go sailing with him to-morrow, and I said I would go if you were asked. I knew you wouldn't go, however." "Of course not," answered Aunt Abby, severely, "and his asking you in such a way was almost an insult. If he had meant well, he would have said he was taking other friends out and would have asked us both to join them. I should not have consented to that even, however. These summer people are not our sort, and to accept such favors from them is to put ourselves in a fair way of being laughed at. I would advise, also, that you have no more to say to this young man. It will not reflect credit upon you if you do." That afternoon, while Chip practised upon her banjo, it being vacation time, Aunt Abby called upon several neighbors with news-gathering intent. She succeeded to the fullest, and that evening related it to Chip. "This Mr. Goodnow has been here about two weeks," she said, "and is boarding at Captain Perkins's. He came in a small steam yacht he claims he owns, and has been going about with three ladies who are stopping at the Mix House. Two of them are sisters, the Misses Wilson, and a Mrs. Simpson, a widow. He seems the most devoted to the widow. They have been out driving quite often, and once or twice she has been sailing with him alone. It's all right, of course, only she being a good deal older than he is, makes it seem curious. When he calls here to-morrow, as I suppose he will, I'd better see him."