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In the course of the afternoon the mules and two men with a long
rope appeared； and we were then towed back to where we belonged。
And we are there yet。 Our boarder remains with us； as the weather
is still fine； and the coolness between us is gradually
diminishing。 But the boat is moored at both ends； and twice a day
I look to see if the ropes are all right。
The petunias are growing beautifully； but the geraniums do not seem
to flourish。 Perhaps there is not a sufficient depth of earth for
them。 Several times our boarder has appeared to be on the point of
suggesting something in regard to them； but； for some reason or
other； he says nothing。
CHAPTER III。
TREATING OF A NOVEL STYLE OF GIRL。
One afternoon； as I was hurrying down Broadway to catch the five
o'clock train； I met Waterford。 He is an old friend of mine； and I
used to like him pretty well。
〃Hello！〃 said he； 〃where are you going？〃
〃Home；〃 I answered。
〃Is that so？〃 said he。 〃I didn't know you had one。〃
I was a little nettled at this； and so I said； somewhat brusquely
perhaps：
〃But you must have known I lived somewhere。〃
〃Oh； yes！ But I thought you boarded；〃 said he。 〃I had no idea
that you had a home。〃
〃But I have one； and a very pleasant home； too。 You must excuse me
for not stopping longer； as I must catch my train。〃
〃Oh！ I'll walk along with you；〃 said Waterford； and so we went down
the street together。
〃Where is your little house？〃 he asked。
Why in the world he thought it was a little house I could not at
the time imagine； unless he supposed that two people would not
require a large one。 But I know； now； that he lived in a very
little house himself。
But it was of no use getting angry with Waterford； especially as I
saw he intended walking all the way down to the ferry with me； so I
told him I didn't live in any house at all。
〃Why； where DO you live？〃 he exclaimed； stopping short。
〃I live in a boat；〃 said I。
〃A boat！ A sort of 'Rob Roy' arrangement； I suppose。 Well； I
would not have thought that of you。 And your wife； I suppose； has
gone home to her people？〃
〃She has done nothing of the kind；〃 I answered。 〃She lives with
me； and she likes it very much。 We are extremely comfortable； and
our boat is not a canoe； or any such nonsensical affair。 It is a
large； commodious canal…boat。〃
Waterford turned around and looked at me。
〃Are you a deck…hand？〃 he asked。
〃Deck…grandmother！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Well； you needn't get mad about it；〃 he said。 〃I didn't mean to
hurt your feelings； but I couldn't see what else you could be on a
canal…boat。 I don't suppose； for instance； that you're captain。〃
〃But I am；〃 said I。
〃Look here！〃 said Waterford； 〃this is coming it rather strong；
isn't it？〃
As I saw he was getting angry； I told him all about it；told him
how we had hired a stranded canal…boat and had fitted it up as a
house； and how we lived so cosily in it； and had called it 〃Rudder
Grange；〃 and how we had taken a boarder。
〃Well！〃 said he； 〃this is certainly surprising。 I'm coming out to
see you some day。 It will be better than going to Barnum's。〃
I told himit is the way of societythat we would be glad to see
him； and we parted。 Waterford never did come to see us； and I
merely mention this incident to show how some of our friends talked
about Rudder Grange； when they first heard that we lived there。
After dinner that evening； when I went up on deck with Euphemia to
have my smoke； we saw the boarder sitting on the bulwarks near the
garden； with his legs dangling down outside。
〃Look here！〃 said he。
I looked； but there was nothing unusual to see。
〃What is it？〃 I asked。
He turned around and seeing Euphemia； said：
〃Nothing。〃
It would be a very stupid person who could not take such a hint as
that； and so； after a walk around the garden； Euphemia took
occasion to go below to look at the kitchen fire。
As soon as she had gone； the boarder turned to me and said：
〃I'll tell you what it is。 She's working herself sick。〃
〃Sick？〃 said I。 〃Nonsense！〃
〃No nonsense about it；〃 he replied。
The truth was； that the boarder was right and I was wrong。 We had
spent several months at Rudder Grange； and during this time
Euphemia had been working very hard； and she really did begin to
look pale and thin。 Indeed； it would be very wearying for any
woman of culture and refinement； unused to house…work； to cook and
care for two men； and to do all the work of a canal…boat besides。
But I saw Euphemia so constantly； and thought so much of her； and
had her image so continually in my heart； that I did not notice
this until our boarder now called my attention to it。 I was sorry
that he had to do it。
〃If I were in your place；〃 said he； 〃I would get her a servant。〃
〃If you were in my place；〃 I replied； somewhat cuttingly； 〃you
would probably suggest a lot of little things which would make
everything very easy for her。〃
〃I'd try to；〃 he answered； without getting in the least angry。
Although I felt annoyed that he had suggested it； still I made up
my mind that Euphemia must have a servant。
She agreed quite readily when I proposed the plan； and she urged me
to go and see the carpenter that very day； and get him to come and
partition off a little room for the girl。
It was some time； of course； before the room was made （for who ever
heard of a carpenter coming at the very time he was wanted？） and；
when it was finished； Euphemia occupied all her spare moments in
getting it in nice order for the servant when she should come。 I
thought she was taking too much trouble； but she had her own ideas
about such things。
〃If a girl is lodged like a pig； you must expect her to behave like
a pig； and I don't want that kind。〃
So she put up pretty curtains at the girl's window； and with a box
that she stood on end； and some old muslin and a lot of tacks； she
made a toilet…table so neat and convenient that I thought she ought
to take it into our room and give the servant our wash…stand。
But all this time we had no girl； and as I had made up my mind
about the matter； I naturally grew impatient； and at last I
determined to go and get a girl myself。
So； one day at lunch…time； I went to an intelligence office in the
city。 There I found a large room on the second floor； and some
ladies； and one or two men； sitting about； and a small room； back
of it； crowded with girls from eighteen to sixty…eight years old。
There were also girls upon the stairs； and girls in the hall below；
besides some girls standing on the sidewalk before the door。
When I made known my business and had paid my fee； one of the
several proprietors who were wandering about the front room went
into the back apartment and soon returned with a tall Irishwoman
with a bony weather…beaten face and a large weather…beaten shawl。
This woman was told to take a chair by my side。 Down sat the huge
creature and stared at me。 I did not feel very easy under her
scrutinizing gaze； but I bore it as best I could； and immediately
began to ask her all the appropriate questions that I could think
of。 Some she answered satisfactorily； and some s