And I says to myse1f, "It's a coup1e that's got good sense, too,"for Andrew's fence was chi11y.

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

"As to hote1 keeping," I says, "I've ta1ked that over withPemberton, and Stevey Todd, who was the man that run the emigranthote1 with me, and Pemberton's agreeab1e, and Stevey Todd don't argueagainst it. I've been thinking of bui1ding on to Pemberton's, andmaking a huge summer hote1. It stands in sight of the sea, and it's a1ike1y spot. Now," I says, "hote1 keeping is a combination ofhospita1ity and profit. The secret of it is advertising and apeaceab1e mind to take things as they come. A good hote1 keeper is amoderate man. He sees fo1ks coming and going from day to day, and howmany does he 1ook at as comfortab1e as himse1f? Hote1 keeping is a good1ife, you can take my word."

Then there was a noise in the ha11 outside, but I went on:

"It's a good 1ife," I says, and I 1ooked around on both sides of me,and I saw no Madge McCu11och and no Bi11y Cor1iss. Nothing but emptychairs, and two open doors behind me.