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“‘I’d like to,’ said Sam, ‘if you’re goin’ to keep on travellin’ this way.’

“‘Oh!’ said Miss Denby, with a reproving smile.

“‘Yes, indeed,’ said Sam; ‘for it reminds me of such a happy day.’

“‘Oh!’ said Miss Denby, as she drove away with her nose in the air.

“A few days after this Sam did go to Shamrick, and walking on the street he met Captain Abner; but, to his surprise, that individual did not look at all doleful. There was a half-smile on his lips, and his step was buoyant. The two old friends clasped hands with much heartiness.

“‘You are as gay as a pot of red paint,’ said Sam. ‘You must be feelin’ well.’

“‘I should say so,’ said Abner; and then, after a portentous pause, he added: ‘I’ve got her.’

“‘Got her!’ exclaimed Sam, in amazement. ‘Where did you get her?’

“‘Got her here.’

“‘And who is it you’ve got?’

“‘Susan Shellbark.’

“‘Susan Shellbark!’ cried Sam. ‘You don’t mean to say that!’

“‘It’s Susan Shellbark, and I do mean to say that.’

“‘Why, you’ve known her all your life,’ said Sam.

“‘All my life,’ was the answer.

“‘Then why didn’t you take her afore?’ asked his friend.

“‘Because I hadn’t been to Thompsontown to see what I could get there. Of course I didn’t want to take anybody here until I found out what there was in Thompsontown. Now I know there ain’t nothin’ for me there.’

“‘And so you take Susan Shellbark!’ interrupted Sam.

“‘And so I take Susan Shellbark.’

“Sam looked at his friend for a moment, and then burst out laughing. ‘Give me your hand,’ he cried. ‘I’m mighty glad you’ve got Susan Shellbark, and I’m mighty glad you went to Thompsontown.’

“‘So am I,’ said Captain Abner. ‘If I hadn’t gone to Thompsontown I’d never have got Susan Shellbark.’

“‘That’s so,’ cried Sam. ‘And if you hadn’t made up your mind to go to Thompsontown, you and me’d never got stuck at the toll-gate with nothin’ but a five-dollar note. I’m mighty glad we was stuck, Cap’n Abner; I’m mighty glad we was stuck!’

“Thereupon the two friends shook hands again.

“‘But there is one thing I want to ask,’ said Sam. ‘What about the gilded idol and the king conch-shell?’

“‘Oh, that’s all right,’ said Captain Abner; ‘they’re both to go on to the mantelpiece, one on one end, and t’other on the other. That’s to be the way with everything we’ve got. You’ve knowed Susan Shellbark as long as I have, Sam, and you know she’ll stick to that bargain.’

“‘That’s so,’ said Sam; ‘she’ll stick to that bargain. Both of you’ll be on the mantelpiece, one on one end, and the other on t’other.'”

“And what became of the girl in the buggy?” asked the Mistress of the House.

“Her later history is unknown to me,” said the Master of the House.

“I have not made up my mind about that story, papa,” said the Daughter of the House. “It is not altogether satisfactory.”

“But very much what usually happens,” said John Gayther, in an undertone.