When we reached the farm the old man went into the barn, and I took the fish into the house.  I found the two pretty daughters in the large room, where the eating and some of the cooking was done.  I opened my basket, and with great pride showed them the big trout I had caught.  They evidently thought it was a large fish, but they looked at each other, and smiled in a way that I did not understand.  I had expected from them, at least, as much admiration for my prize and my skill as their father had shown.

“You don’t seem to think much of this fine trout that I took such trouble to catch,” I remarked.

“You mean,” said the elder girl, with a laugh, “that you bought of Barney Sloat.”

I looked at her in astonishment.

“Barney was along here to-day,” she said, “and he told about your buying your fish of him.”

“Bought of him!” I exclaimed, indignantly.  “A little string of fish at the bottom of the basket I bought of him, but all the others, and this big one, I caught myself.”

“Oh, of course,” said the pretty daughter, “bought the little ones and caught all the big ones!”

“Barney Sloat ought to have kept his mouth shut,” said the younger pretty daughter, looking at me with an expression of pity.  “He’d got his money, and he hadn’t no business to go telling on people.  Nobody likes that sort of thing.  But this big fish is a real nice one, and you shall have it for your supper.”

“Thank you,” I said, with dignity, and left the room.

I did not intend to have any further words with these young women on this subject, but I cannot deny that I was annoyed and mortified.  This was the result of a charitable action.  I think I was never more proud of anything than of catching that trout; and it was a good deal of a downfall to suddenly find myself regarded as a mere city man fishing with a silver hook.  But, after all, what did it matter?

The boy who did not seem to be accounted a member of the family came into the house, and as he passed me he smiled good-humoredly, and said:  “Buyed ’em!”

I felt like throwing a chair at him, but refrained out of respect to my host.  Before supper the old man came out on to the porch where I was sitting.  “It seems,” said he, “that my gals has got it inter their heads that you bought that big fish of Barney Sloat, and as I can’t say I seed you ketch it, they’re not willin’ to give in, ’specially as I didn’t git no such big one.  ‘Tain’t wise to buy fish when you’re goin’ fishin’ yourself.  It’s pretty certain to tell agen you.”

“You ought to have given me that advice before,” I said, somewhat shortly.  “You saw me buy the fish.”

“You don’t s’pose,” said old Peter, “that I’m goin’ to say anythin’ to keep money out of my neighbor’s pockets.  We don’t do that way in these parts.  But I’ve told the gals they’re not to speak another word about it, so you needn’t give your mind no worry on that score.  And now let’s go in to supper.  If you’re as hungry as I am, there won’t be many of them fish left fur breakfast.”