She was really an admirable hostess.
The individual in faded snuff-color was certainly hungry, and he seemed to enjoy his supper.

During the meal he gave us some account of himself.
He was an artist and had traveled, mostly on foot it would appear, over a great part of the country.

He had in his valise some very pretty little colored sketches of scenes in Mexico and California, which he showed us after supper.

Why he carried these pictures--which were done on stiff paper--about with him I do not know.

He said he did not care to sell them, as he might use them for studies for larger pictures some day.