so he paid her off and let her go.  This other giantess was an awful expense to him, she was such an eater; now I don’t have no great of an appetite,”—­this was said plaintively,—­“and he’s raised my pay since I’ve been with him because we did so well.  I took up with his offer because I was nothing but a drag and never will be.  I’m as comfortable as I can be, but it’s a pretty hard business.  My oldest boy is able to do for himself, but he’s married this last year, and his wife don’t want me.  I don’t know’s I blame her either.  It would be something like if I had a daughter now; but there, I’m getting to like travelling first-rate; it gives anybody a good deal to think of.”

“I was asking the folks about you when I was up home the early part of the summer,” said Mrs. Kew, “but all they knew was that you were living out in New York State.  Have you been living in Kentucky long?  I saw it on the picture outside.”

“No,” said the giantess, “that was a picture the man bought cheap from another show that broke up last year.  It says six hundred and fifty pounds, but I don’t weigh more than four hundred.  I haven’t been weighed for some time past.  Between you and me I don’t weigh so much as that, but you mustn’t mention it, for it would spoil my reputation, and might hender my getting another engagement.”  And then the poor giantess lost her professional look and tone as she said, “I believe I’d rather die than grow any bigger.  I do lose heart sometimes, and wish I was a smart woman and could keep house.  I’d be smarter than ever I was when I had the chance; I tell you that!  Is Tom along with you?”

“No.  I came with these young ladies, Miss Lancaster and Miss Denis, who are stopping over to Deephaven for the summer.”  Kate and I turned as we heard this introduction; we were standing close by, and I am proud to say that I never saw Kate treat any one more politely than she did that absurd, pitiful creature with the gilt crown and many bracelets.  It was not that she said much, but there was such an exquisite courtesy in her manner, and an apparent unconsciousness of there being anything in the least surprising or uncommon about the giantess.

Just then a party of people came in, and Mrs. Kew said good by reluctantly.  “It has done me sights of good to see you,” said our new acquaintance; “I was feeling down-hearted just before you came in.  I’m pleased to see somebody that remembers me as I used to be.”  And they shook hands in a way that meant a great deal, and when Kate and I said good afternoon the giantess looked at us gratefully, and said, “I’m very much obliged to you for coming in, young ladies.”

“Walk in! walk in!” the man was shouting as we came away.  “Walk in and see the wonder of the world, ladies and gentlemen,—­the largest woman ever seen in America,—­the great Kentucky giantess!”