“What in the world have you put that sign inside here for?” she demanded.

Mr. Winslow explained, taking his own deliberate time in making the explanation.  Miss Hunniwell wrinkled her dainty upturned nose and burst into a trill of laughter.

“Oh, that’s lovely,” she declared, “and just like you, besides.  And do you think Gabe Bearse will go back into the other room when he sees it?”

Jed looked dreamily over his spectacles at the sign.  “I don’t know,” he drawled.  “If I thought he’d go wherever that sign was I ain’t sure but I’d tack it on the cover of the well out in the yard yonder.”

His fair visitor laughed again.  “Why, Jed,” she exclaimed.  “You wouldn’t want to drown him, would you?”

Jed seemed to reflect.  “No-o,” he answered, slowly, “don’t know’s I would—­not in my well, anyhow.”

Miss Hunniwell declared that that was all nonsense.  “You wouldn’t drown a kitten,” she said.  “I know that because when Mrs. Nathaniel Rogers’ old white cat brought all her kittens over here the first of this summer you wouldn’t even put them out in the yard at night, to say nothing of drowning them.  All six and the mother cat stayed here and fairly swarmed over you and ate you out of house and home.  Father said he believed they fed at the first table and you were taking what was left.  It was a mercy the old cat decided to lead them back to the Rogers’ again or I don’t know what might have become of you by this time.”

Jed seemed to be thinking; there was a reminiscent twinkle in his eye.

“The old cat didn’t lead ’em back,” he said.  “Nathaniel took ’em back.  Didn’t I ever tell you about that?”

“No, you didn’t.  You know you didn’t.  Mr. Rogers took them back?  I can’t believe it.  He told everywhere about town that he was glad to get rid of the whole family and, as you and the cats seemed to be mutually happy together, he wasn’t going to disturb you.  He thought it was a great joke on you.  And he took them back himself?  Why?”

Mr. Winslow rubbed his chin.  “I don’t know’s I’d ought to say anything about it,” he said.  “I haven’t afore.  I wouldn’t interfere with Nate’s sales for anything.”

“Sales?  Sales of what?  Oh, you mean thing!  Don’t be so provoking!  Tell me the whole story this minute.”

Jed painted a moment or two.  Then he said:  “We-ell, Maud, you see those kittens got to be kind of a nuisance.  They was cunnin’ and cute and all that, but they was so everlastin’ lively and hungry that they didn’t give me much of a chance.  I was only one, you see, and they had a majority vote every time on who should have the bed and the chairs and the table and one thing or ’nother.  If I sat down I sat on a cat.  If I went to bed I laid down on cats, and when I turned them out and turned in myself they came and laid down on me.  I slept under fur blankets most of June.  And