Primmie shook her head.  “Oh, no, no,” she declared, with decision, “You ain’t a mite of bother, Mr. Bangs.  I’ve heard Miss Martha say more’n a dozen times what a nice man you was and how easy ’twas to provide for you.  She likes you, Miss Martha does, and I do, too.  Even when we thought you was an undertaker huntin’ ’round for remains we liked you just the same.”

Galusha could not help feeling a certain satisfaction in this whole-hearted declaration.  It was pleasant to learn that he was liked and that his hostess considered him a nice man.

“Thank you, Primmie,” he said.  “But what I meant was—­was—­ Well, I pay what seems to me a ridiculously small sum for board and lodging.  I begged to be allowed to pay more, but Miss Phipps wouldn’t permit it.  Now I am sure she must be losing money in the transaction and if I were to go—­ah—­elsewhere perhaps it might be—­ah—­easier for her.  Candidly, don’t you think so, Primmie?”

Miss Cash appeared to consider.  Then she shook her head again.  “No,” she said, “I don’t.  You pay your board and I’ve heard her say more’n once that she felt as if you was payin’ too much.  No, ’tain’t that.  It’s more’n that.  It ain’t anything to do really with you or me, Mr. Bangs.  Miss Martha’s lost some money somehow, I believe.  She ain’t got enough to get along on, ’cause she told me she hadn’t.  Now, she used to have and I believe she’s lost some of it somewheres.  And I believe that—­”

Galusha felt it his duty to interrupt.

“Primmie,” he continued, “you mustn’t tell me anything which Miss Phipps wouldn’t wish told.  I wouldn’t for the world have you think that I am unduly curious concerning her personal affairs.  If there is any trait which I—­ah—­detest above others it is that of unwarranted curiosity concerning the—­ah—­private affairs of one’s acquaintances.  I . . .  Why do you look at me like that?  Were you about to speak?”

Primmie was staring at him in what seemed to be awe-stricken admiration.  She drew a long breath.

“My Lord of Isrul!” she exclaimed, fervently, “I never heard anybody string talk along the way you can in all my born days, Mr. Bangs.  I bet you’ve said as many as seven words already that I never heard afore, never heard ary one of ’em, I ain’t.  Education’s wonderful, ain’t it?  Pa used to say ’twas, but all he had he picked up off fishin’ and clammin’ and cranberrin’ and around.  All our family had a kind of picked-up education, seemed so.”

“Yes, yes, Primmie, but—­”

“But why don’t I mind my own business and stick to what I was goin’ to say, you mean?  All right, I will.  I was goin’ to say that I believe Miss Martha’s lost money somehow and I believe that dressed-up stuffed image of a Raish Pulcifer is responsible for her losin’ it, that’s what I believe.”

“Mr. Pulcifer!  Why, Primmie, why do you say that?  What proof have you?”