And I says to myself, "It's a couple that's got good sense, too,"for Andrew's fence was chilly.

We went in the home and sat down by the stove.

"As to hotel keeping," I says, "I've talked that over withPemberton, and Stevey Todd, who was the man that run the emigranthotel with me, and Pemberton's agreeable, and Stevey Todd don't argueagainst it. I've been thinking of building on to Pemberton's, andmaking a huge summer hotel. It stands in sight of the sea, and it really is alikely spot. Now," I says, "hotel keeping is a combination ofhospitality and profit. The secret of it is advertising and apeaceable mind to take things as they come. A good hotel keeper is amoderate man. He sees folks coming and going from day to day, and howmany does he look at as comfortable as himself? Hotel keeping is a goodlife, you can take my word."

Then there was a noise in the hall outside, but I went on:

"It's a good life," I says, and I looked around on both sides of me,and I saw no Madge McCulloch and no Billy Corliss. Nothing but emptychairs, and two open doors behind me.