He rose from the table, and as she turned to meet his pleasant eyes he
smilingly thanked her for waiting on him.
"And now," he said, "if you will say to your father that I'd like to
have a little talk with him----"
"Father is ill in bed," she said, in a low voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I hope it isn't anything serious."
"I--think not."
"Will he be able to see me to-morrow?"
"I am afraid not, Mr. Marche. He--he asked me to say to you that you
might safely transact any business with me. I know all about it," she
said, speaking a little hurriedly. "I keep the accounts, and I have
every item and every bill ready for your inspection; and I can tell you
exactly what condition the property is in and what lumber has been cut
and what repairs have been necessary. Whenever you are ready for me, I
will come into the sitting room," she added, "because Jim and I have had
our supper."
"Very well," he said, smiling, "I am ready now, if you are."
So she went away to rinse her hands and lay aside her apron, and in a
few minutes she entered the sitting room. He rose and placed a chair for
her, and she thanked him, flushing a little, and then he resumed his
seat, watching her sorting over the papers in her lap.
Presently she crossed one knee over the other, and one slim, prettily
shaped foot, in its shabby shoe, swung clear of its shadow on the floor.
Then she handed him a sheaf of bills for his inspection, and, pencil in
hand, followed the totals as he read them off aloud.
For half an hour they compared and checked off items, and he found her
accounts accurate to a penny.
"Father bought three geese and a gander from Ike Helm," she said. "They
were rather expensive, but two were mated, and they call very well when
tied out separated. Do you think it was too expensive?" she added
timidly, showing him the bill.
"No," he said, smiling. "I think it's all right. Mated decoys are what
we need, and you can wing-tip a dozen before you get one that will talk
at the right time."
"That is true," she said eagerly. "We try our best to keep up the decoys
and have nothing but talkers. Our geese are nearly all right, and our
ducks are good, but our swans are so vexing! They seem to be such
fools, and they usually behave like silly cygnets. You will see
to-morrow."