Part 30 (1/2)

I backed, in order to get round to my proper side of the counter But, unfortunately, I backed without looking; I stumbled over an e incontinently a bundles of brooms and axe handles

Never in all nificant or so foolish as then

The very devil himself seemed to have set his picked imps after me; for it was my habit, ordinarily, to be neither dirty as I was then, nor clownish as I must have appeared

To put it mildly, I was deeply eradation of it

As I rose, I fancied that h I turnedlady, but she was a very owl for inscrutable solemnity I looked over at the elderly person in the doorway; she was snity

”What kind of business do you run here?” asked the self-possessed young lady

”Strictly cash,the Camps and the better class of settlers”

”I did not inquire _how_ you ran your business, but what kind of business you ran,” she retorted icily ”Of course,--we shall pay as we purchase”

I was hastening froue out or kicked ether and assunity as was possible in my badly ruffled internal and external condition

”Are there anythe subject with disconcerting suddenness

I flushed slightly at the taunt

”N-no! miss,” I replied, in my best shop-keeper tone, ”sorry,--but we are completely out of them”

She must have detected the flavour of sarcasm, for her lips relaxed for the briefest moment, and a smile was born which shos of even white teeth I ventured a smile in return, but it proved a sorry and an unfortunate one, for it killed hers ruthlessly and right at the second of its birth, too

I almost waited for her to tell me I was ”too fresh,” but she did not do so She had away She simply wilted

Only on one or two occasions had I encountered that particular shade of reserve that adjusts everything around to its proper sphere and level without hurting, and it was always in elderly, aristocratic, British duchesses; never in a young lady with golden hair and eyes,--well! at that time, I could not tell the colour of her eyes, but there was so in them that co for all my life and had never been able to find

”Mr Store-keeper,” she co aloud ”Mr Store-keeper,”

forsooth

”You appear anxious to misconstrue me Let me explain,--please”

I bowed contritely What else could I do?

”This afternoon, I have a piano,--boxed,--co by the steamer _Siwash_ I would like if you could find et it ashore and placed in my house”

She said it so easily and it sounded so sied piano from a steamer three hundred yards out in the Bay, land it and place it in a house on the top of a rock

Heaven help the piano! I thought, as I gaped at her in bewilder with the chain of her silver purse,--”if you are afraid to tackle it, why!--I'll--we shall do it ourselves”

She turned on her heel

She looked so determined that I had not the least doubt but that she would have a go at it anyway

”Not at all,--not at all It will be a pleasure,--I am sure,” I said quickly, as if I had been reared all