“It’s a real pretty one, I think,” she said.  “Shall we put it on, Mr. Chase?”

“No, no, course not.  That’s the best tablecloth.  Don’t use that only when there’s company—­or Sundays.”

Mary-’Gusta considered.  She counted on her fingers.

“How long have we used this dirty one?” she asked.

“Eh?  Oh, I don’t know.  Four or five days, maybe.”  Then, evidently feeling that the repetition of the “we” implied a sense of unwarranted partnership in the household management, he added with dignity, “That is, I’ve seen fit to use it that long.”

The sarcasm was wasted.  The girl smiled and nodded.

“That makes it all right,” she declared.  “If we put this one on now it’ll be Sunday long before it’s time to change.  And we can wash the other one today or tomorrow.”

“Oh, we can, eh?”

“Yes, sir”

Isaiah looked as if he wished to say something but was at a loss for words.  The Sunday cloth was spread upon the table while he was still hunting for them.

“And now,” said Mary-’Gusta, “if you’re sure you don’t need me any more just now I guess I’d like to go up and see the store.  May I?”

Site found the store of Hamilton and Company an exceedingly interesting place.  Zoeth and his partner greeted her cordially and she sat down upon a box at the end of the counter and inspected the establishment.  It was not very large, but there was an amazing variety in its stock.  Muslin, tape, calico, tacks, groceries, cases of shoes, a rack with spools of thread, another containing a few pocket knives, barrels, half a dozen salt codfish swinging from nails overhead, some suits of oilskins hanging beside them, a tumbled heap of children’s caps and hats, even a glass-covered case containing boxes of candy with placards “1 c. each” or “3 for 1 c.” displayed above them.

“Like candy, do you?” asked Mr. Hamilton, noticing her scrutiny of the case and its contents.

“Yes, sir,” said Mary-’Gusta.

“How about sassafras lozengers?  Like them?”

“Yes, sir.”

She was supplied with a roll of the lozenges and munched them gravely.  Captain Shad, who had been waiting on a customer, regarded her with an amused twinkle.

“Sassafras lozengers are good enough for anybody, eh?” he observed.

“Yes, sir,” replied Mary-’Gusta.  Then she added, politely:  “Only I guess these are wintergreen.”

She stayed at the store until noon.  Then she walked home with the Captain whose turn it was to dine first that day.  The hiring of Annabel had been an unusual break in the business routine.  Ordinarily but one of the partners left that store at a time.

“Well,” inquired the Captain, as they walked down the lane, “what do you think of it?  Pretty good store for a place like South Harniss, ain’t it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I bet you!  Different from the Ostable stores, eh?”