she bade Gideon follow her. They found both the hammer and a chisel;

but Gideon was surprised to see no sign of a servant. He also discovered

that Miss Hazeltine had a very pretty little foot and ankle; and the

discovery embarrassed him so much that he was glad to fall at once upon

the packing-case.

He worked hard and earnestly, and dealt his blows with the precision

of a blacksmith; Julia the while standing silently by his side, and

regarding rather the workman than the work. He was a handsome fellow;

she told herself she had never seen such beautiful arms. And suddenly,

as though he had overheard these thoughts, Gideon turned and smiled to

her. She, too, smiled and coloured; and the double change became her

so prettily that Gideon forgot to turn away his eyes, and, swinging the

hammer with a will, discharged a smashing blow on his own knuckles. With

admirable presence of mind he crushed down an oath and substituted the

harmless comment, 'Butter fingers!' But the pain was sharp, his nerve

was shaken, and after an abortive trial he found he must desist from

further operations.

In a moment Julia was off to the pantry; in a moment she was back again

with a basin of water and a sponge, and had begun to bathe his wounded

hand.

I am dreadfully sorry!' said Gideon apologetically. 'If I had had

any manners I should have opened the box first and smashed my hand

afterward. It feels much better,' he added. 'I assure you it does.'

The Wrong Box