"That's right, go ahead and snum. I'd snum myself if I knew how--it knocked me. Better come up-stairs and congratulate the happy couple." "Shoo, now! I certainly am mighty disappointed in that fellow. Still he _is_ well spotted, and them freckles mean iron in the blood. Maybe we can develop him along with the other properties." They found Psyche already radiant, though showing about her eyes traces of the storm's devastations. Mauburn was looking happy; also defiant and stubborn. "Mr. Bines," he said to Uncle Peter, "I hope you'll side with me. I know something about horses, and I've nearly a thousand pounds that I'll be glad to put in with you out there if you can make a place for me." The old man looked him over quizzically. Psyche put her arm through Mauburn's. "I'd _have_ to marry some one, you know, Uncle Peter!" "Don't apologise, Pish. There's room for men that can work out there, Mr. Mauburn, but there ain't any vintages or trouserings to speak of, and the hours is long." "Try me, Mr. Bines!" "Well, come on! If you can't skin yourself you can hold a leg while somebody else skins. But you ain't met my expectations, I'll say that." And he shook hands cordially with the Englishman. "I say, you know," said Mauburn later to Psyche, "why _should_ I skin myself? Why should I be skinned at all, you know?" "You shouldn't," she reassured him. "That's only Uncle Peter's way of saying you can help the others, even if you can't do much yourself at first. And won't Mrs. Drelmer be delighted to know it's all settled?" "Well," said Uncle Peter to Percival, later in the evening, "Pish has done better than you have here. It's a pity you didn't pick out some good sensible girl, and marry her in the midst of your other doings." "I couldn't find one that liked cats. I saw a lot that suited every other way but I always said to myself, 'Remember Uncle Peter's warning!' so I'd go to an animal store and get a basket of kittens and take them around, and not one of the dozen stood your test. Of course I'd never disregard your advice." "Hum," remarked Uncle Peter, in a tone to be noticed for its extreme dryness. "Too bad, though--you certainly need a wife to take the conceit out of you." "I lost that in the Street, along with the rest." "Well, son, I ain't no ways alarmed but what you'll soon be on your feet again in that respect--say by next Tuesday or Wednesday. I wish the money was comin' back as easy." "Well, there are girls in Montana City." "You could do worse. That reminds me--I happened to meet Shepler to-day and he got kind of confidential,--talkin' over matters. He said he'd never really felt sure about the affections of a certain young woman, especially after that night at the Oldakers'--he'd never felt dead sure of her until you went broke. He said you never could know anything about a woman--not really."