"Gitty up, hossy!" said Calvin. "We're late for supper now, and it don't do for me to get too sharp-set; there ain't likely to be more supper than what I can get away with. There's the store now, and there's Miss Phrony, sure enough, lookin' out for me. Now I put it to you, hossy; what was the object, precisely, of makin' a woman look like that? The ways is mysterious, sure enough. There's a plenty of material there for a good-lookin' woman, take and spread it kind o' different." A tall, scraggy woman, with pale green eyes seeking each other across a formidable beak, and teeth like a twisted balustrade, greeted him with a reproachful look as he drove up to the corner store. "Good afternoon, Miss Phrony," he said comfortably. "I expect I'm just a mite late, ain't I?" "I should think you was!" replied the scraggy woman. "I've been waitin' full two hours, Cap'n Parks." "Have!" said Calvin affably. "Now ain't that a sight! But it's a good thing you had such pleasant company to wait in; I'm glad of that. How do, Si? how do, Eph?" he nodded to two men who were leaning against the door-posts, chewing straws and observing the universe. "Any trade doin' with little Calvin to-day?" "Nothin' only a box of wintergreen lozenges, I guess," said Si, the storekeeper. "Mebbe you might leave another box of broken," he added, after a glance in at his showcase. "Trade hasn't been real smart this week. You ain't goin' to charge me full price for them goods, are you, Cal?" "If I took off anything," replied Calvin, "'twould be because you were so handsome, and that wouldn't be real good for your disposition, so I expect I shall have to deny myself the pleasure. Three dollars and ninety cents--thank you, sir! Now, Miss Phrony, if you're ready--these your bundles? Why, you've been buyin' out the store, I expect! Let me help you in; up she comes! So long, boys!" "Think she'll get him?" said Si to Eph, as they watched the wagon disappearing down the road. "I--don't--know!" replied Si slowly. "Sometimes I think he's as simple as he is appearin', and then again I have my doubts. But one thing's sure; she's goin' to do her darndest towards it!" CHAPTER VII MATCH-MAKING "Cal!" said Mr. Sim. "Wall!" said Calvin Parks. "That's poetry, Sim, or as nigh to it as you and me are likely to come." "Quit foolin', Cal! I want to speak to you serious." "Fire away!" said Calvin, leaning back in his chair and stretching his long legs. "I want to know what you think of Cousin!" Mr. Sim went on. Calvin sat up, and drew in his legs. "She's all right!" he said shortly. "Of course she's all right!" said Mr. Sim peevishly. "She wouldn't be here if she was all wrong, would she? I want to know what you _think_ of her." "I think she's a fine-appearin' woman!" said Calvin slowly. "And smart. And personable. A 1, clipper-built and copper-fastened, is the way I should describe your cousin if she was a vessel."