been impossible for her to thank me as she wished for the service
I had rendered her, and that Mrs. Cutler, with whom she boarded,
and herself, would be glad if after supper I would call upon them.
I gave the messenger-boy enough gold to enable him to buy a new
bicycle and in my room executed a dance symbolizing joy. I then
kicked my suit-case under the bed. I would not soon need it. Now
that Miss Briggs had forgiven me, I was determined to live and die
in New Bedford.

The home of Mrs. Cutler, where Miss Briggs lodged and boarded, was
in a side street of respectable and distinguished antiquity. The
street itself was arched with the branches of giant elms, and each
house was an island surrounded by grass, and over the porches
climbed roses. It was too warm to remain indoors, so we sat on the
steps of the porch, and through the leaves of the elms the electric
light globe served us as a moon. For an automobile salesman I was
very shy, very humble.

Twice before I had given offense and I was determined if it lay
with me, it would not happen again. I did not hope to interest Miss
Briggs in myself, nor did I let it appear how tremendously I was
interested in her. For the moment I was only a stranger in a
strange land making a social call. I asked Miss Briggs about New
Bedford and the whaling, about the books she sold, and the books
she liked. It was she who talked. When I found we looked at things
in the same way and that the same things gave us pleasure I did not
comment on that astonishing fact, but as an asset more precious
than gold, stored it away. When I returned to the hotel I found
that concerning Miss Briggs I had made important discoveries. I had
learned that her name was Polly, that the JOLLY POLLY had been