"Yes," she said, "I think it would. If you're sure it would make
the wind go right."
"We-ll, I guess likely I could guarantee that fish would go 'most
any way the wind did, unless it should take a notion to blow
straight up and down, which don't happen often. So you know Cap'n
Hedge, do you? Relation of his, are you? Visitin' there?"
"No. Mamma and I are boarding at Mrs. Smalley's, but I go over to
call on Captain Hedge 'most every day."
"Sho! Want to know! Well, that's nice and sociable. So you're
boardin' at Luretta Smalley's. My! you're consider'ble ways from
home, ain't you? Is your mamma with you?"
For the first time the youthful caller's poise seemed a trifle
shaken.
"No-o . . . no," she stammered, and added, hastily: "How much is
this fish, please?"
"I generally sell that sort of fish for about two dollars." He
looked out of the window, hummed a tune, and then added: "Let's
see, what did you say your name was?"
"I didn't, but it's Barbara Armstrong. HOW much did you say the
fish was?"
"Eh? . . . Oh, two dollars."
Miss Armstrong looked very much disappointed.
"Oh, dear," she sighed. "I didn't know it would be as much as
that. I--I'm 'fraid I can't get it."
"So? That's too bad. What was you cal'latin' to do with it, if
you did get it?"
"I was going to give it to Captain Hedge.
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