“What name was it, as I wrote up in the cart, sir?” said Mr. Barkis, with a slow rheumatic smile.

“Ah! Mr. Barkis, we had some grave talks about that matter, hadn’t we?”

“I was willin’ a long time, sir?” said Mr. Barkis.

“A long time,” said I.

“And I don’t regret it,” said Mr. Barkis. “Do you remember what you told me once, about her making all the apple parsties and doing all the cooking?”

“Yes, very well,” I returned.