FAIR HARBOR

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By JOSEPH C. LINCOLN

 FAIR HARBOR GALUSHA THE MAGNIFICENT THE PORTYGEE "SHAVINGS" MARY-'GUSTA CAP'N DAN'S DAUGHTER THE RISE OF ROSCOE PAINE THE POSTMASTER THE WOMAN HATERS KEZIAH COFFIN CY WHITTAKER'S PLACE CAP'N ERI EXTRICATING OBADIAH THANKFUL'S INHERITANCE MR. PRATT MR. PRATT'S PATIENTS KENT KNOWLES: "QUAHAUG" CAP'N WARREN'S WARDS THE DEPOT MASTER OUR VILLAGE PARTNERS OF THE TIDE THE OLD HOME HOUSE CAPE COD BALLADS

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FAIR HARBOR

A Novel

by

JOSEPH C. LINCOLN

Author of "Galusha the Magnificent, " "Shavings, " "Mary 'Gusta, ""Mr. Pratt, " "Cap'n Eri, " Etc. 

D. Appleton and CompanyNew York :: 1922 :: London

Copyright, 1922, by D. Appleton CompanyCopyright, 1922, by the Curtis Publishing Company

Printed in the United States of America

FAIR HARBOR

CHAPTER I

"Hi hum, " observed Mr. Joel Macomber, putting down his knife and forkwith obvious reluctance and tilting back his chair. "Hi hum-a-day! Man, born of woman, is of few days and full of--of somethin', I forgetwhat--George, what is it a man born of woman is full of?"

George Kent, putting down his knife and fork, smiled and replied that hedidn't know. Mr. Macomber seemed shocked. 

"_Don't know?_" he repeated. "Tut, tut! Dear me, dear me! A young fellerthat goes to prayer meetin' every Friday night--or at least waitsoutside the meetin'-house door every Friday night--and yet he don'tremember his Scriptur' well enough to know what man born of woman isfull of? My soul and body! What's the world comin' to?"

Nobody answered. The six Macomber children, Lemuel, Edgar, Sarah-Mary, Bemis, Aldora and Joey, ages ranging from fourteen to two and a half, kept on eating in silence--or, if not quite in silence, at least withoutspeaking. They had been taught not to talk at table; their mother hadtaught them, their father playing the part of horrible example. Mrs. Macomber, too, was silent. She was busy stacking plates and cups andsaucers preparatory to clearing away. When the clearing away wasfinished she would be busy washing dishes and after that at some otherhousehold duty. She was always busy and always behind with her work. 

Her husband turned to the only other person at the crowded table. 

"Cap'n Sears, " he demanded, "you know 'most everything. What is it manborn of woman is full of besides a few days?"

Sears Kendrick thoughtfully folded his napkin. There was a hole in thenapkin--holes were characteristic of the Macomber linen--but the napkinwas clean; this was characteristic, too. 

"Meanin' yourself, Joel?" he asked, bringing the napkin edges into line. 

"Not necessarily. Meanin' any man born of woman, I presume likely. "

"Humph! Know many that wasn't born that way?"

Mr. Macomber's not too intellectual face creased into many wrinkles andthe low ceiling echoed with his laugh. "Not many, I don't cal'late, " hesaid, "that's a fact. But you ain't answered my question, Cap'n. What isman born of woman full of?"

Captain Kendrick placed the folded napkin carefully beside his plate. 

"Breakfast, just now, I presume likely, " he said. "At least, I know twoor three that ought to be, judgin' by the amount of cargo I've seen 'emstow aboard in the last half hour. " Then, turning to Mrs. Macomber, headded, "I'm goin' to help you with the dishes this mornin', Sarah. "

The lady of the house had her own ideas on that subject. 

"Indeed you won't do anything of the sort, " she declared. "The idea! Andyou just out of a crippled bed, as you might say. "

This remark seemed to amuse her husband hugely. "Ho, ho!" he shouted. "That's a good one! I didn't know the bed was crippled, Sarah. What'sthe matter with it; got a pain in the slats?"

Sarah Macomber seldom indulged in retort. Usually she was too busy towaste the time. But she allowed herself the luxury of a half minute onthis occasion. 

"No, " she snapped, "but it's had one leg propped up on half a brick forover a year. And at least once a week in all that time you've beenpromisin' to bring home a new caster and fix it. If that bed ain't acripple I don't know what is. "

Joel looked a trifle taken aback. His laugh this time was not quite asuproarious. 

"Guess you spoke the truth that time, Sarah, without knowin' it. Who isit they say always speaks the truth? Children and fools, ain't it? Well, you ain't a child scarcely, Sarah. Hope you ain't the other thing. Eh?Ho, ho!"

Mrs. Macomber was halfway to the kitchen door, a pile of plates upon herarm. She did not stop nor turn, but she did speak. 

"Well, " she observed, "I don't know. I was one once in my life, there'sprecious little doubt about that. "

She left the room. Young Kent and Captain Kendrick exchanged glances. Mr. Macomber swallowed, opened his mouth, closed it and swallowed again. Lemuel and Sarah-Mary, the two older children, giggled. The clock on themantel struck seven times. The sound came, to the adults, as a timelyrelief from embarrassment. 

Captain Kendrick looked at his watch. 

"What's that?" he exclaimed. "Six bells already? So 'tis. I declare Ididn't think 'twas so late. "

Joel rose to his feet, moving--for him--with marked rapidity. 

"Seven o'clock!" he cried. "My, my! We've got to get under way, George, if we want to make port at the store afore 'Liphalet does. Come on, George, hurry up. "

Kent lingered for a moment to speak to Sears Kendrick. Then he emergedfrom the house and he and Joel walked rapidly off together. They wereemployed, one as clerk and bookkeeper and the other as driver of thedelivery wagon, at Eliphalet Bassett's Grocery, Dry Goods, Boots andShoes and Notion Store at the corner of the main road and the depotroad. Joel's position there was fixed for eternity, at least heconsidered it so, having driven that same delivery wagon at the samewage for twenty-two years. "Me and that grocery cart, " Mr. Macomber waswont to observe, "have been doin' 'Liphalet's errands so long we've cometo be permanent fixtures. Yes, sir, permanent fixtures. " When this wasrepeated to Mr. Bassett the latter affirmed that it was true. "Everytime the dum fool goes out takin' orders, " said Eliphalet, "he stays solong that I begin to think he's turned _into_ a permanent fixture. Takesan order for a quarter pound of tea and a spool of cotton and then hangs'round and talks steady for half an hour. Permanent fixture! Permanentgas fixture, that's what _he_ is. "

George Kent did not consider himself a permanent fixture at Bassett's. He had been employed there for three years, or ever since the death ofhis father, Captain Sylvester Kent, who had died at sea aboard his ship, the _Ocean Ranger_, on the voyage home from Java to Philadelphia. Georgeremained in Bayport to study law with Judge Knowles, who was interestedin the young man and, being a lawyer of prominence on the Cape, was aninfluential friend worth having. The law occupied young Kent's attentionin the evenings; he kept Mr. Bassett's books and sold Mr. Bassett'sbrown sugar, calico and notions during the days, not because he lovedthe work, the place, or its proprietor, but because the twelve dollarspaid him each Saturday enabled him to live. And, in order to live socheaply that he might save a bit toward the purchase of clothes, lawbooks and sundries, he boarded at Joel Macomber's. Sarah Macomber tookhim to board, not because she needed company--six children and a husbandsupplied a sufficiency of that--but because three dollars more a weekwas three dollars more. 

Joel and George having tramped off to business and the very last crumbof the Macomber breakfast having vanished, the Macomber childrenproceeded to go through their usual morning routine. Lemuel, who didchores for grumpy old Captain Elijah Samuels at the latter's big placeon the depot road, departed to rake hay and be sworn at. Sarah-Mary wentupstairs to make beds; when the bed-making was over she and Edgar andBemis would go to school. Aldora and Joey, the two youngest, wentoutdoors to play. And Captain Sears Kendrick, late master of the ship_Hawkeye_, and before that of the _Fair Wind_ and the _Far Seas_ andgoodness knows how many others, who ran away to ship as cabin boy whenhe was thirteen, who fought the Malay pirates when he was eighteen, andoutwitted Semmes by outmaneuvering the _Alabama_ when he wastwenty-eight, a man once so strong and bronzed and confident, but now soweak and shaken--Captain Sears Kendrick rose painfully and with effortfrom his chair, took his cane from the corner and hobbled to thekitchen. 

"Sarah, " he said, "I'm goin' to help you with those dishes thismornin'. "

"Sears, " said Mrs. Macomber, taking the kettle of boiling dish-waterfrom the top of the stove, "you'll do nothin' of the kind. You'll gooutdoors and get a little sunshine this lovely day. It's the first realgood day you've had since you got up from bed, and outdoors 'll help youmore than anything else. Now you go!"

"But look here, Sarah, for Heaven's sake----"

"Be still, Sears, and don't be foolish. There ain't dishes enough toworry about. I'll have 'em done in half a shake. Go outdoors, I tellyou. But don't you walk on those legs of yours. You hear me. "

Her brother--Sarah Macomber was a Kendrick before she marriedJoel--smiled slightly. "How do you want me to walk, Sarah, on my hands?"he inquired. "Never mind my legs. They're better this mornin' than theyhave been since that fat woman and a train of cars fell on 'em. .. . Ahhum!" with a change of tone, "it's a pity they didn't fall on my neckand make a clean job of it, isn't it?"

"Sears!" reproachfully. "How can you talk so? And especially now, whenthe doctor says if you take care of yourself, you'll 'most likely be aswell as ever in--in a little while. "

"A little while! In a year or two was what he said. In ten years wasprobably what he meant, and you'll notice he put in the 'most likely'even at that. If you were to lash him in the fore-riggin' and keep himthere till he told the truth, he'd probably end by sayin' that I wouldalways be a good for nothin' hulk same as I am now. "

"Sears, don't--please don't. I hate to hear you speak so bitter. Itdoesn't sound like you. "

"It's the way I feel, Sarah. Haven't I had enough to make me bitter?"

His sister shook her head. "Yes, Sears, " she admitted, "I guess likelyyou have, but I don't know as that is a very good excuse. Some of therest of us, " with a sigh, "haven't found it real smooth sailin' either;but----"

She did not finish the sentence, and there was no need. He understoodand turned quickly. 

"I'm sorry, Sarah, " he said. "I ought to be hove overboard and towedastern. The Almighty knows you've had more to put up with than ever Ihad and you don't spend your time growlin' about it, either. I declareI'm ashamed of myself, but--but--well, you know how it is with me. I'venever been used to bein' a loafer, spongin' on my relations. "

"Don't, Sears. You know you ain't spongin', as you call it. You've paidyour board ever since you've been here. "

"Yes, I have. But how much? Next to half of nothin' a week and youwouldn't have let me pay that if I hadn't put my foot down. Or said Iwas goin' to try to put it down, " he added with a grim smile. "You're agood woman, Sarah, a good woman, with more trials than your share. Andwhat makes me feel worst of all, I do believe, is that I should bepitched in on you--to be the biggest trial of all. Well, that part'sabout over, anyhow. No matter whether I can walk or not I shan't stayand sponge on you. If I can't do anything else I'll hire a fish shantyand open clams for a livin'. "

He smiled again and she smiled in sympathy, but there were tears in hereyes. She was seven years older than her brother, and he had always beenher pride. When she was a young woman, helping with the housework in theold home there in Bayport, before her father's death and the sale ofthat home, she had watched with immense gratification his success inschool. When he ran away to sea she had defended him when otherscondemned. Later, when tales of his "smartness, " as sailor or mate, orby and by, a full rated captain, began to drift back, she had gloried inthem. He came to see her semi-occasionally when his ship was in port, and his yarns of foreign lands and strange people were, to her, far morewonderful than anything she had ever found in the few books which hadcome in her way. Each present he brought her she had kept and cherished. And there was never a trace of jealousy in her certain knowledge that hehad gone on growing while she had stopped, that he was a strong, capableman of the world--the big world--whereas she was, and would always be, the wife and household drudge of Joel Macomber. 

Now, as she looked at him, pale, haggard and leaning on his cane, stooping a little when he had been so erect and sturdy, the pity whichshe had felt for him ever since they brought him into her sitting-roomon the day of the railway accident became keener than ever and with itcame an additional flash of insight. She realized more clearly than shehad before that it was not his bodily injuries which hurt most and werethe hardest to bear; it was his self-respect and the pride which werewounded sorest. That he--_he_--Sears Kendrick, the independent autocratof the quarter deck, should be reduced to this! That it was wringinghis soul she knew. He had never complained except to her, and even toher very, very seldom, but she knew. And she ventured to ask thequestion she had wanted to ask ever since he had sufficiently recoveredto listen to conversation. 

"Sears, " she said "I haven't said a word before, and you needn't tell menow if you don't want to--it isn't any of my business--but is it truethat you've lost a whole lot of money? It isn't true, is it?"

He had been standing by the open door, looking out into the yard. Now heturned to look at her. 

"What isn't true, Sarah?" he asked. 

"That you've lost a lot of money in--in that--that business you wentinto. It isn't true, is it, Sears? Oh, I hope it isn't! They say--why, some of 'em say you've lost all the money you had put by. An awful sightof money, they say. Sears, tell me it isn't true--please. "

He regarded her in silence for a moment. Then he shook his head. 

"Part of it isn't true, Sarah, " he answered, with a slight smile. "Ihaven't lost a big lot of money. "

"Oh, I'm _so_ glad. Now I can tell 'em a few things, I guess. "

"I wouldn't tell 'em too much, because the other part _is_ true. I havelost about all I had put by. "

"Oh, Sears!"

"Um--hm. And served me right, of course. You can't make a silk ear outof a sow's purse, as old Cap'n Sam Doane used to love to say. You can't, no matter how good a purse--or--ear--it is. I was a pretty good seacap'n if I do say it, but that wasn't any reason why I should havefigured I was a good enough business man to back as slippery an eel asJim Carpenter in the ship chandlery game ashore. "

"But--you----" Mrs. Macomber hesitated to utter the disgraceful word, "you didn't fail up, did you, Sears?" she faltered. "You know that'swhat they say you did. "

"Well, they say wrong. Carpenter failed, I didn't. I paid dollar fordollar. That's why I've got next to no dollars now. "

"But you--you've got _some_, Sears. You must have, " hopefully, "becauseyou've been paying me board. So you must have _some_ left. "

The triumph in her face was pathetic. He hated to disturb her faith. 

"Yes, " he said dryly, "I have some left. Maybe seven hundred dollars orsome such matter. If I had my legs left it would be enough, or more thanenough. I wouldn't ask odds of anybody if I was the way I was beforethat train went off the track. I'd lost every shot I had in the locker, but I'm not very old yet--some years to leeward of forty--there was moremoney to be had where that came from and I meant to have it. Andthen--well, then this happened to me. "

"I know. And to think that you was comin' down here on purpose to see mewhen it did happen. Seems almost as if I was to blame, somehow. "

"Nonsense! Nobody was to blame but the engineer that wrecked the trainand the three hundred pound woman that fell on my legs. And the engineerwas killed, poor fellow, and the woman was--well, she carried her ownpunishment with her, I guess likely. Anyhow, I should call it apunishment if I had to carry it. There, there, Sarah! Let's talk aboutsomethin' else. You do your dishes and, long as you won't let me helpyou, I'll hop-and-go-fetch-it out to that settee in the front yard andlook at the scenery. Just think! I've been in Bayport almost four monthsand haven't been as far as that gate yet--except when they lugged me inpast it, of course. And I don't recall much about that. "

"I guess not, you poor boy. And I saw them bringin' you in, allstretched out, with your eyes shut, and as white as---- Oh, my soul andbody! I don't want to think about it, let alone talk about it. "

"Neither do I, Sarah, so we won't. Do you realize how little I know ofwhat's been goin' on in Bayport since I was here last? And do yourealize how long it has been since I _was_ here?"

"Why, yes, I do, Sears. It's been almost six years; it will be just sixon the tenth of next September. "

The speech was illuminating. He looked at her curiously. 

"You do keep account of my goin's and comin's, don't you, old girl?" hesaid. "Better than I do myself. "

"Oh, it means more to me than it does to you. You live such a busy life, Sears, all over the world, meetin' everybody in all kinds of places. Forme, with nothin' to do but be stuck down here in Bayport--well, it'sdifferent with me--I have to remember. Rememberin' and lookin' ahead isabout all I have to keep me interested. "

He was silent for a moment. Then he said: "It looks as if rememberin'was all I will be likely to have. Think of it, Sarah! Four months inBayport and I haven't been to the post-office. That'll stand as a townrecord, I'll bet. "

"And--and you'll keep up your courage, Sears? You won't let yourself getblue and discouraged, for my sake if nobody else's?"

He nodded. "I couldn't, Sarah, " he said earnestly. "With you around I'dbe ashamed to. "

She ran to help him down the step, but he waved her away, and, leaningupon the cane and clinging fast to the lattice with the other hand, hemanaged to make the descent safely. Once on the flat level of the walkhe moved more rapidly and, so it seemed to his sister, more easily thanhe had since his accident. The forty odd feet of walk he navigated infair time and came to anchor, as he would have expressed it, upon thebattered old bench by the Macomber gate. The gate, like the picketfence, of which it was a part, needed paint and the bench needed slatsin its back. Almost anything which Joel Macomber owned needed somethingand his wife and family needed most of all. 

An ancient cherry tree, its foliage now thickly spotted with green fruit, for the month was June, cast a shadow upon the occupant of the bench. Athis feet grew a bed of daffodils and jonquils which Sarah Macomber hadplanted when she came, a hopeful bride, to that house. Each year theysprouted and bloomed and now, long after Sarah's hopes had ceased tosprout, they continued to flourish. Beside the cherry tree grew a lilacbush. Beyond the picket fence was the dusty sidewalk and beyond that thedustier, rutted road. And beyond the road and along it upon both sideswere the houses and barns and the few shops of Bayport village, Bayportas it was, and as some of us remember it, in the early '70's. 

In some respects it was much like the Bayport of to-day. The housesthemselves have changed but little. Then, as now, they were trim andwhite and green-shuttered. Then, as now, the roses climbed upon theirlattices and the silver-leaf poplars and elms and mulberry trees wavedabove them. But the fences which enclosed their trim lawns and yardshave disappeared, and the hitching posts and carriage blocks by theirfront gates have gone also. Gone, too, are the horses and buggies andcarryalls which used to stand by these gates or within those barns. Theyare gone, just as the ruts and dust of the roads have vanished. WhenMrs. Captain Hammond, of the lower road, used to call upon Mrs. Ryder atWest Bayport, she was wont to be driven to her destination in theintensely respectable Hammond buggy drawn by the equally respectableHammond horse and piloted by the even more respectable--not to sayvenerable--Hammond coachman, who was also gardener and "hired man. " Andthey made the little journey in the very respectable time of thirty-fiveminutes. Now when Mrs. Captain Hammond's granddaughter, who winters inBoston but summers at the old home, wishes to go to West Bayport sheskims over the hard, oiled macadam in her five thousand dollar runaboutand she finishes the skimming in eight minutes or less. 

And although the dwellings along the Bayport roads are much as theywere that morning when Captain Sears Kendrick sat upon the bench in theMacomber yard and gazed gloomily at the section of road which laybetween the Macomber gate and the curve beyond the Orthodoxmeeting-house--although the houses were much the same in externalappearance, those who occupy them at the present day are vastlydifferent from those who owned and lived in them then. Here is thegreatest change which time has brought to old Bayport. Now thosehouses--the majority of them--are open only in summer; then they wereopen all the year. They who come to them now regard them as playthings, good-time centers for twelve or fourteen weeks. Then they were the homesof men and women who were proud of them, loved them, meant to live inthem--while on land--as long as life was theirs; to die in them iffortunate enough to be found by death while ashore; and at last to beburied near them, under the pines of the Bayport cemetery. Now thesehomes are used by business men or lawyers or doctors, whose real homesare in Boston, New York, Chicago, or other cities. Then practicallyevery house was owned or occupied either by a sea captain, active orretired, or by a captain's widow or near relative. 

For example, as Captain Kendrick sat in his brother-in-law's yard onthat June morning of that year in the early '70's, within his sight, that is within the half mile from curve to curve of the lower road, wereno less than nine houses in which dwelt--or had dwelt--men who gained aliving upon a vessel's quarter deck. Directly across the road was thelarge, cupola-crowned house of Captain Solomon Snow. Captain Sol was atpresent somewhere between Surinam and New York, bound home. His wife waswith him, so was his youngest child. The older children were at home, inthe big house; their aunt, Captain Sol's sister, herself a captain'swidow, was with them. 

Next to Captain Solomon's was the Crowell place. Captain Bethuel Crowellwas in Hong Kong, but, so his wife reported at sewing circle, hadexpected to sail from there "any day about now" bound for Melbourne. Next to Captain Bethuel lived Mrs. Patience Foster, called "Mary Pashy"by the townspeople to distinguish her from another Mary Foster in EastBayport. Her husband had been drowned at sea, or at least so it wassupposed. His ship left Philadelphia eight years before and had neverbeen spoken or heard from since that time. Next to Mary-Pashy's was theimposing, if ugly, residence of Captain Elkanah Wingate. Captain Elkanahwas retired, wealthy, a member of the school-committee, a selectman, anaristocrat and an autocrat. And beyond Captain Elkanah lived CaptainGodfrey Peasley--who was not quite of the aristocracy as he commanded aschooner instead of a square-rigger, and beyond him Mrs. Tabitha Crosby, whose husband had died of yellow fever while aboard his ship in NewOrleans; and beyond Mrs. Crosby's was--well, the next building was theOrthodox meeting-house, where the Reverend David Dishup preached. Nowadays people call it the Congregationalist church. On the same sideof the road as the Macomber cottage were the homes of Captain SylvanusBaker and Captain Noah Baker and of Captain Orrin Eldridge. 

Bayport, in that day, was not only by the sea, it was of the sea. Thesea winds blew over it, the sea air smelled salty in its highways andbyways, its male citizens--most of them--walked with a sea roll, andupon the tables and whatnots of their closed and shuttered "frontparlors" or in their cupboards or closets were laquered cabinets, andwhales' teeth, and alabaster images, and carved chessmen and curiousshells and scented fans and heaven knows what, brought from heaven knowswhere, but all brought in sailing ships over one or more of the seas ofthe world. The average better class house in Bayport was an oddcombination of home and museum, the rear two-thirds the home section andthe remaining third, that nearest the road, the museum. Bayport frontparlors looked like museums, and generally smelled like them. 

To a stranger from, let us say, the middle west, the village then musthave seemed a queer little community dozing upon its rolling hills andby its white beaches, a community where the women had, most of them, traveled far and seen many strange things and places, but who seldomtalked of them, preferring to chat concerning the minister's wife's newbonnet; and whose men folk, appearing at long intervals from remoteparts of the world, spoke of the port side of a cow and compared thethree-sided clock tower of the new town hall with the peak of Teneriffeon a foggy morning. 

All this, odd as it may have seemed to visitors from inland, were butmatters of course to Sears Kendrick. To him there was nothing strange inthe deep sea atmosphere of his native town. It had been there ever sincehe knew it, he fondly imagined--being as poor a prophet as most ofus--that it would always be. And, as he sat there in the Macomber yard, his thoughts were busy, not with Bayport's past or future, but with hisown, and neither retrospect nor forecast was cheerful. He could seelittle behind him except the mistakes he had made, and before him--noteven the opportunity to make more. 

Overhead, amid the cherry branches, the bees buzzed and the robinschirped. From the kitchen window came the click of dishes as Mrs. Macomber washed and wiped them. Around the curve of the road by themeeting-house came Dr. Sheldon's old horse, drawing Dr. Sheldon'santiquated chaise, with the doctor himself leaning back comfortably uponits worn cushions. Captain Kendrick, not being in the mood for a chatjust then even with as good a friend as his physician, made no move, andthe old chaise and its occupant passed by and disappeared around thenext curve. Sarah-Mary and Edgar and Bemis noisily trooped out of thehouse and started for school. Edgar was enthusiastically carolling aditty which was then popular among Bayport juvenility. It wasreminiscent of a recent presidential campaign. 

 "Grant and Greely were fightin' for flies, Grant gave Greely a pair of black eyes--"

The children, like Doctor Sheldon and the chaise, passed out of sightaround the bend of the road. Edgar's voice, more or less tunefully, drifted back:

 "Grant said, 'Do you want any more?' Greely said, 'No, for my eyes are too sore. '"

Sears Kendrick crossed his knees and changed position upon the bench. Obviously he could not hope to go to sea again for months at the veryearliest. Obviously he could not live during those months at hissister's. She would be only too delighted to have him do so, but on thatpoint his mind was made up. And, quite as obviously, he could not longexist, and pay an adequate price for the privilege of existing, with thesmall sum which was left after his disastrous voyage upon the sea ofbusiness. His immediate problems then were two: First, to find aboarding place which was very, very cheap. Second, if possible, to finda means of earning a little money. The first of these he might, perhaps, solve after a fashion, but the second--and he a cripple! He groanedaloud. 

Then he gradually became aware of a new set of sounds, soundsapproaching along the road from the direction in which the children andthe doctor's equipage had disappeared. The sounds, at first ratherconfused, gradually separated themselves into two varieties, one thesharp, irregular rattle of a springless cart, the second a hoarseunmusical voice which, like Edgar's, was raised in song. But in thiscase the rattle of the cart caused the song to be broken unexpectedlyinto jerky spasms, so to speak. Nevertheless, the singer kept manfullyat his task. 

 "Now the _Dreadnought's_ a-bowlin' (_Bump! Rattle_) down the wild Irish sea Where the pass (_Bump!_) engers are merry with hearts full of glee, While the sailors like lions (_Gid-dap! What's the matter with ye_) walk the decks to and fro, She's the Liverpool packet (_Bump! Bang! Crack!_) Good Lord, let her go!"

Sears Kendrick sat upright on the settee. Of course he recognized thesong, every man who had ever sailed salt water knew the old_Dreadnought_ chantey, but much more than that, he believed herecognized the voice of the singer. Leaning forward, he watched for thelatter to appear. 

Then, around the clump of lilacs which leaned over Captain Sol Snow'sfence at the corner, came an old white horse drawing an old"truck-wagon, " the wagon painted, as all Cape Cod truck-wagons then wereand are yet, a bright blue; and upon the high seat of the wagon sat achunky figure, a figure which rocked back and forth and sang:

 "Now the _Dreadnought's_ a sailin' the (_Bang! Bump!_) Atlantic so wide, While the (_Thump! Bump!_) dark heavy seas roll along her black side, With the sails neatly spread (_Crump! Jingle!_) and the red cross to show, She's the Liverpool packet; Good Lord, let----"

Captain Kendrick interrupted here. 

"Ahoy, the _Dreadnought_!" he hailed. "_Dreadnought_ ahoy!"

"Good Lord, let 'er go!" roared the man on the seat of the truck-wagon, finishing the stanza of his chantey. Then he added "Whoa!" in a mightybellow. The white horse stopped in his tracks, as if he had one eartipped backward awaiting the invitation. His driver leaned down andpeered into the shadow of the lilac bush. 

"Who--?" he began. "Eh? _What?_ Limpin', creepin', crawlin', jumpin'Moses and the prophets! It ain't Cap'n Sears Kendrick, is it? It is, byHenry! Well, well, _well_, WELL, _WELL_!"

Each succeeding "well" was louder and more emphatic than itspredecessor. They were uttered as the speaker rolled, rather thanclimbed, down from the high seat. Alighting upon a pair of enormous feetshod in heavy rubber boots, the tops of which were turned down, hethumped up the little slope from the road to the sidewalk. Then, thrusting over the fence pickets a red and hairy hand, the size of whichcorresponded to that of the feet, he roared another string of delightedexclamations. 

"Cap'n Sears Kendrick, on deck and all taut again! Well, by the jumpin', creepin'! If this ain't--Cap'n Sears, sir, how be you?"

His broad-brimmed, battered straw hat had fallen off in his descent fromthe wagon seat, uncovering a partially bald head and a round, extremelyred face, two-thirds of which was hidden by a tremendously thick andbristly tangle of short gray whiskers. The whiskers were now bisected bya broad grin, a grin so broad and so ecstatic that its wrinkles extendedto the bulbous nose and the apple cheeks above. 

"Cap'n Sears, sir, " repeated the driver of the truck-wagon, "I'm proudto see you on deck again, sir. Darned if I ain't!"

The captain leaned forward and shook the big red hand extended acrossthe fence pickets. 

"Judah Cahoon, you old salt herrin', " he cried heartily, "I'm just asglad to see you! But _what_ in the world are you doin' here inBayport?"

CHAPTER II

Mr. Cahoon's grin vanished and the expression of his face above thewhiskers indicated extreme surprise. 

"What am I doin' here?" he repeated. "Didn't you know I was here, Cap'nSears?"

"Of course I didn't. The last I heard of you you had shipped as cookaboard the _Gallant Rover_ and was bound for Calcutta, or Singapore orsomewhere in those latitudes. And that was only a year ago. What are youdoin' on the Cape and pilotin' that kind of a craft?" indicating thetruck wagon. 

The question was ignored. "Didn't they never tell you I was here?"demanded Judah. "Didn't that Joel Macomber tell you I been hailin' himevery time he crossed my bows, askin' about you every day since you runon the rocks? Didn't he tell you that?"

"No. "

"Never give you my respects nor--nor kind rememberances, nor nawthin'?"

"Not a word. Never so much as mentioned your name. "

"The red-headed shark!"

"There! There! Sshh! Never mind him. Come in here and sit down a minute, can't you? Or are you in a hurry?"

"Eh? No-o, I ain't in no 'special hurry. Just got a deck load of seaweedaboard carting it up home, that's all. "

"Home? What home?"

"Why, where I'm livin'. I call it home; anyhow it's all the home I got. Eh? Why, Cap'n Sears, ain't they never told you that I'm livin' at theMinot place?"

"The Minot place! Why--why, man alive, you don't mean the General Minotplace, do you?"

"Um-hm. That's what folks down here call it. There ain't no Generalsthere though. "

"And _you_ are livin' in the General Minot house? Look here, Judah, areyou trying to make a fool of me?"

Mr. Cahoon's countenance--that portion of it above the whisker tidemark, of course--registered horror at the thought. He had been cook andsteward aboard Captain Kendrick's ships for many voyages and his feelingfor his former skipper was close kin to idolatry. 

"Eh?" he gasped. "Me try to make a fool out of _you_, Cap'n Sears? _Me?_No, no, I got _some_ sense left, I hope. "

Kendrick smiled. "Oh, the thing isn't impossible, Judah, " he observeddryly. "It has been done. I have been made a fool of and more thanonce. .. . But there, never mind that. I want to know what you are doin'at the General Minot place. Come aboard here and tell me about it. Youcan leave your horse, can't you? He doesn't look as if he was liable torun away. "

"Run away! Him?" Judah snorted disgust. "Limpin' Moses! He won't run awayfor the same reason old Cap'n Eben Gould didn't say his prayers--he'sforgot how. I was out with that horse on the flats last week and thetide pretty nigh caught us. The water in the main channel was so deepthat it was clean up to the critter's garboard strake, and still, by thecreepin', I couldn't get him out of a walk. I thought there one spell hemight _drift_ away, but I knew dum well he'd never run. .. . Whoa!you--you hipponoceros you!" addressing the ancient animal, who wasplacidly gnawing at the Macomber hitching post. "'Vast heavin' on thatpost! _Look_ at the blasted idiot!" with huge disgust. "To home, by thecreepin', he'll turn up his nose at good hay and then he'll cruise outhere and start to swaller a wood fence. Whoa! Back! Back, or I'll--I'llbore a hole in you and scuttle you. "

The old horse condescended to back for perhaps two feet, a proceedingwhich elicited a grunt of grudging approval from Mr. Cahoon. The latterthen settled himself with a thump upon the settee beside CaptainKendrick. 

"How's the spars splicin'?" he inquired, with a jerk of his thumb towardthe captain's legs. "Gettin' so you can navigate with 'em? Stand upunder sail, will they?"

"Not for much of a cruise, " replied Sears, using the same nauticalphraseology. "I shan't be able to run under anything but a jury rig fora good while, I'm afraid. But never mind the spars. I want to know howyou happen to be down here in Bayport, and especially what on earth youare doin' at the Minot place? Somebody died and left you a million?"

Mr. Cahoon's whiskers were split again by his wide grin. 

"If I was left a million _I'd_ die, " he observed with emphasis. "No, no, nothin' like that, Cap'n. I'm there along of . .. Humph! You know youngOgden Minot, don't you?"

"No, I guess I don't. I don't seem to remember him. Ogden Minot, yousay?"

"Sartin. Why, you must have run afoul of him, Cap'n Sears. He has a--asort of home moorin's at a desk in Barstow Brothers' shippin' office upon State Street. Has some kind of berth with the firm, they tell me, partner or somethin'. You must have seen him there. "

"Well, if I have I. .. . Hold on a minute! Seems to me I do remember him. Tall fellow, dresses like a tailor's picture; speaks as if--"

"As if the last half of every word was comin' on the next boat. That'shim. Light complected, wears his whiskers wing and wing, like a schoonerrunnin' afore the wind. Same kind of side whiskers old Cap'n Spencer ofthe _Farewell_ used to carry that voyage when I fust run afoul of you. You was second mate and I was cook, remember. You recollect theskipper's side whiskers, Cap'n Sears? Course you do! Stuck out each sideof his face pretty nigh big as old-fashioned studdin' sails. Fo'masthands used to call 'em the old man's 'homeward-bounders. ' Ho, ho! Why, I've seen them whiskers blowin'--"

Kendrick interrupted. 

"Never mind Cap'n Spencer's whiskers, " he said. "Stick to your course, Judah. What about this Ogden Minot?"

"Everythin' bout him. If 'twan't for him I wouldn't be here now. Nosir-ee, 'stead of settin' here swappin' yarns with you, Cap'n Sears, I'dbe somewheres off Cape Horn, cookin' lobscouse and doughboy over ared-hot galley stove. Yes sir, that's where I'd be. And I'd just as soonbe here, and a dum sight juster, as the feller said. Ho, ho! Tut, tut, tut! You can't never tell, can you? How many times I've stood in mygalley with a gale of wind blowin', and my feet braced so's I wouldn'tpitch into the salt-horse kittle every time she rolled, and thinkin'--"

"There, there, Judah! Bring her up, bring her up. You're three pointsoff again. "

"Eh? So I be, so I be. I'll try and hold her nose in the notch from nowon. Well, 'twas last October, a year ago, when I'd about made up my mindto go cook in the _Gallant Rover_, same as you said. I hadn't signedarticles, you understand, but I was cal'latin' to, and I was down onLong Wharf where the _Rover_ was takin' cargo, and her skipper, Cap'nGustavus Philbrick, 'twas--he was a Cape man, one of the OstablePhilbricks--he asked me if I wouldn't cruise up to the Barstow Brothers'office and fetch down some papers that was there for him. So I didn'thave nawthin' to do 'special, and 'twas about time for my eleveno'clock--when I'm in Boston I always cal'late to hist aboard one eleveno'clock, rum and sweetenen' 'tis generally, at Jerry Crockett's saloonon India Street and. .. . Aye, aye, sir! All right, all right, Cap'nSears. I'll keep her in the notch, don't worry. Well--er--er--what was Isayin'? Oh, yes! Well, I had my eleven o'clock and then I cruised up tothe Barstow place, and the fust mate there, young Crosby Barstow 'twas, he was talkin' with this Ogden Minot. And when I hove in sight youngBarstow, he sings out: 'And here's another Cape Codder, Ogden, ' he says. 'You two ought to know each other. Cahoon, ' says he, 'this is Mr. OgdenMinot; his folks hailed from Bayport. That's down your way, ain't it?'

"'You bet!' says I. 'My home port's Harniss, and that's right next door. Minot? Minot?' I says, tryin' to recollect, you understand. 'Seems to meI used to know a Minot down that way. Why, yes, course I did! You anyrelation to old Ichabod Minot, that skippered the _Gypsy Maid_ fishin'to the Banks? Ichabod hailed from--from--Denboro, seems to me 'twas. '

"He said no pretty sharp. Barstow, he laughed like fury and wanted toknow if this Ogden Minot looked like Ichabod. 'Is there a familyresemblance?' he says. I told him I guessed not. 'Anyhow, ' says I, 'Icouldn't tell very well. I only seen Ichabod when he was drunk. ' Thattickled Barstow most to death. 'You never saw him but that once, then?'he wanted to know. 'Oh, yes, ' says I, 'I seen him about every time hewas on shore after a fishin' trip. '

"That seemed to make him laugh more'n ever and even young Ogden laughedsome. Anyhow, we got to talkin' and I told Barstow how I was cal'latin'to go cook on the _Gallant Rover_. 'And I'm sick of it, ' I says. 'I'dlike a nice snug berth ashore. ' 'You would?' says Barstow. Then he says, 'Humph!' and looks at Minot. And Minot, he says, 'Humph!' and looked athim. And then they both says, 'Humph!' and looked at me. And afore I setsail from that office to carry Cap'n Philbrick's papers back to him I'dagreed not to sign on for that v'yage as cook until I'd cruised downhere to Bayport along of young Ogden Minot to see how I'd like to besort of--of general caretaker and stevedore, as you might call it, atthe General Minot place. You see, young Ogden was the General's grandsonand he'd had the property left him. And 'twas part of the sailin'orders--in the old General's will, you understand--that it couldn't besold, but must always be took care of and kept up. Ogden could rent itout but he couldn't sell it; that was the pickle _he_ was in. Understand, don't you, Cap'n Sears?"

Kendrick nodded. "Why--yes, I guess likely I do, " he said. "But thisMinot boy could live in it himself, couldn't he? Why doesn't he do that?As I remember it, it was considerable of a house. I should think hewould come here himself and live. "

Judah nodded. "You would think so, wouldn't you?" he agreed. "But _he_don't think so, and what's a mighty sight more account, his wife don'tthink so. She's one of them kind of women that--that--well, when shegets to heaven--course I ain't layin' no bets on her gettin' there, but_if_ she does--the fust thing she'll do after she fetches port is tofind out which one of them golden streets has got the highest-toned ganglivin' on it and then start in tryin' to tie up to the wharf thereherself. _She_ wouldn't live in no Bayport. No sir--ee! She's got wintermoorin's up in one of them streets back of the Common, and summer timesshe's down to a place called--er--er--Nahum--Nehimiah--No--jumpin'prophets! What's the name of that place out on the rocks abaft Lynn?"

"Nahant?" suggested his companion. 

"That's it. She and him is to Nahant summers. And what for _I_ don'tknow, when right here in Bayport is a great, big, fine house and landaround it and--and flower tubs in the front yard and--and marble toptables--and--and haircloth chairs and sofys, and--and a Rogers' statooin the parlor and--and. .. . Why, say, Cap'n Sears, you ought to _see_that house and the things in it. They've spent money on that house sameas if a five dollar bill wan't nawthin'. Wasted it, I call it. Thesecond day I was there I wanted to brush off some dust that was on thechair seats and I was huntin' round from bow to stern lookin' for one ofthem little brush brooms, you know, same as you brush clothes with. Well, sir, I'd about give up lookin' when I happened to look on the wallof the settin'-room and there was one hangin' up. And, say, Cap'n Sears, I wisht you could have seen it! 'Twas triced up in a--a kind of becket, as you might say, made out of velvet--yes, sir, by creepin', velvet! Andthe velvet had posies and grass painted on it. And, I don't know asyou'll believe it, but it's a fact, the handle of that brush broom wasgilded! Yes sir, by Henry, _gilded_! 'Well, ' thinks I to myself, 'ifthis ain't then I don't know what is!' I did cal'late that I wasgettin' used to style, and high-toned money-slingin', but when it comesto puttin' gold handles onto brush-brooms, that had me on my beam ends, that did. And ain't it a sinful waste, Cap'n Sears, I ask you? Now ain'tit? And what in time is the _good_ of it? A brush-broom is just a broom, no matter if----"

Again the captain interrupted. "Yes, yes, of course, Judah, " he agreed, laughing; "but what do you do up there all by yourself? In that bighouse?"

"Oh, I don't live in the whole house. I could if I wanted to. Ogden, hedon't care where I live or what I do. All he wants of me, he says, is tokeep the place lookin' good, and the grass cut and one thing or 'nother. He keeps hopin' he's goin' to rent it, you know, but they won't nobodyhire it. The only thing a place big as that would be good for is to keeptavern. And we've got one tavern here in Bayport already. "

Kendrick seemed to be thinking. He pulled his beard. Of course he wore abeard; in those days he would have been thought queer if he had not. Even the Harvard students who came to Bayport occasionally on summertramping trips wore beards or sidewhiskers; the very callowest Freshmansported and nourished a moustache. 

"So you don't occupy the whole house, Judah?" asked the captain. 

"No, no, " replied Mr. Cahoon. "I live out in the back part. There's thekitchen and woodshed and dinin'-room out there and a couple of bedrooms. That's all _I_ want. There's nine more bedrooms in that house, Cap'n, "he declared solemnly. "That makes eleven altogether. Now what in tunketdo you cal'late anybody'd ever do with eleven bedrooms?"

Kendrick shook his head. "Give it up, Judah, " he said. "For the matterof that, I don't see what you do with two. Do you sleep in one weeknights and the other on Sundays?"

Judah grinned. "No, no, Cap'n, " he said. "I don't know myself why I keepthat other bedroom fixed up. Cal'late I do it just for fun, kind ofmakin' believe I'm going to have company, I guess. It gets kind oflonesome there sometimes, 'specially meal times and evenin's. There Iset at mess, you know, grand as the skipper of the _Great Republic_, cloth on the table, silver knife and fork, silver castor with blue glassvinegar and pepper-sass bottles, great, big, elegant mustache cup with'Forget Me Not' printed out on it in gold letters--everything so fine itcouldn't be no finer--but by creepin', sometimes I can't help feelin'lonesome! Seems foolish, don't it, but I be. "

Captain Kendrick did not speak. He pulled at his beard with moredeliberation and the look in his eye was that of one watching thebrightening dawn of an idea. 

"I told Ogden so last time he was down, " continued Mr. Cahoon. "He askedme if I was comf'table and if I wanted anything more and I told him Ididn't. 'Only thing that ails me, ' I says, 'is that I get kind oflonesome bein' by myself so much. Sometimes I wisht I had comp'ny. ''Well, why don't you _have_ comp'ny?' says he. 'You've got room enough, lord knows. ' 'Yes, ' I says, 'but who'll I have?' He laughed. 'That'syour lookout, ' says he. 'You can't expect me to hire a companion foryou. '"

"Humph!" Kendrick regarded him thoughtfully. "So you would like company, would you, Judah?"

"Sartin sure I would, if 'twas the right kind. I got a cat and thathelps a little mite. And Cap'n Shubal Hammond's wife told me yesterdayshe'd give me a young pig if I wanted one. That's what I'm cartin' homethis little mite of seaweed for, to bed down the pig sty. But cats andhogs, they're all right enough, but they ain't human. "

"Do you keep hens?"

This apparently harmless question seemed to arouse Mr. Cahoon's ire. Hiswhiskers bristled and his nose flamed. 

"Hens!" he repeated. "Don't talk to me about hens! No, sir, by theprophets, I don't keep hens! But them everlastin' Fair Harborers keep'em and if they'd keep 'em to home I wouldn't say a word. But theydon't. Half the time they're over my side of the fence raisin' blue hobwith my garden. Hens! Don't talk to me about 'em! I hate the sight ofthe critters. "

Kendrick smiled. "And after all, " he observed, "hens aren't human, either. "

Judah snorted. "Some are, " he declared, "and them's the worst kind. "

There was, doubtless, a hidden meaning in this speech, but if so SearsKendrick did not seek to find it. Laying a hand upon the broad shoulderof his former sea-cook he lifted himself to his feet. 

"Judah, " he asked, briskly, "is that seaweed in your cart there dry?"

"Eh? Dry? Yes, yes, dry as a cat's back. Been layin' on the beach abovetide mark ever since last winter. Why?"

"Do you suppose you could help me hoist myself aboard?"

"Aboard? Aboard that truck-wagon? For the land sakes, what for?"

"Because I want a ride. I've been in drydock here till I'm pretty nearlycrazy. I want to go on a cruise, even if it isn't but a half mile one. Don't you want to cart me down to your anchorage and let me see how youand General Minot and the gilt whisk broom get along? I can sprawl onthat seaweed and be as comfortable as a gull on a clam flat. Come onnow! Heave ahead! Give us a hand up!"

"But--limpin' prophets, Cap'n Sears, I couldn't cart you up the mainroad of Bayport in a seaweed cart. You, of all men! What do you cal'latefolks would say if they see me doin' it? Course I'd love to have youride down and see how I'm livin'. If you'd set up on the thawt there, "indicating the high seat of the truck-wagon, "I'd be proud to have you. But to haul you along on a load of seaweed that's goin' to bed down ahog! Cap'n, you _know_ 'twouldn't be fittin'! Course you do. "

His horror at the sacrilege was so ludicrous that Kendrick laughedaloud. However, he insisted that there was nothing unfitting in theidea; it was a good idea and founded upon common-sense. 

"How long do you think these sprung sticks of mine would last, " hesaid, referring to his legs, "if they were jouncin' up and down on thatseat aloft there? And I couldn't climb up even if I wanted to. But, youand I between us, Judah, can get me in on that seaweed, and that's whatwe're goin' to do. Come, come! Tumble up! All hands on deck now!Lively!"

The familiar order, given with a touch of the old familiar crispness andauthority, had its effect. Mr. Cahoon argued no more. Instead he sprangto attention, figuratively speaking. 

"Aye, aye, sir!" he said. "Here she goes. Take it easy, Cap'n; don'thurry. Ease yourself down that bankin'. If we was to let go and you comedown with a run there'd be the divil and all to pay, wouldn't there? So. .. So. .. . Here we be, alongside. Now---- Aloft with ye. "

They had reached the road by the tailboard of the wagon. And now Judahstooped, picked up his former skipper in his arms and swung him in uponthe load of dry seaweed as if he were a two year old boy instead of afull-grown, and very much grown, man. 

"Well, " he asked, as he climbed to the seat, "all ready to make sail, bewe? Any message you want to leave along with Sary? She won't know whatend you've made, will she?"

"Oh, she'll guess I've gone buggy-ridin' with the doctor. He's beenthreatenin' to take me with him 'most any day now. Sarah'll be allright. Get under way, Judah. "

"Aye, aye, sir. Git dap! Git dap! Limpin', creepin', crawlin', hoppin', jumpin'. .. . Starboard! _starboard_, you son of a Chinee! Need a tug tohaul this critter into the channel, I swan you do! Git dap! Allshipshape aft there, Cap'n Sears? Good enough! let her run. "

The old white horse--like the whisk broom and the Rogers group, a partof the furniture of the General Minot place--plodded along the dustyroad and the blue truck-wagon rolled and rattled behind him. CaptainKendrick, settling his invalid limbs in the most comfortable fashion, lay back upon the seaweed and stared at the sky seen through thebranches of elms and silver-leaf poplars which arched above. He made noattempt to look over the sides of the cart. Raising himself upon anelbow to do so entailed a good deal of exertion and this was his firsttrip abroad since his accident. Besides, seeing would probably meanbeing seen and he was not in the mood to answer the questions ofcurious, even if sympathetic, townsfolk. Judah made several attempts atconversation, but the replies were not satisfactory, so he gave it upafter a little and, as was his habit, once more broke forth in song. Judah Cahoon, besides being sea cook on many, many voyages, had been"chantey man" on almost as many. His repertoire was, therefore, extensive and at times astonishing. Now, as he rocked back and forthupon the wagon seat, he caroled, not the _Dreadnought_ chantey, butanother, which told of a Yankee ship sailing down the Congo River, evidently in the old days of the slave trade. 

 "'Who do you think is the cap'n of her? Blow, boys, blow! Old Holy Joe, the darky lover, Blow, my bully boys, blow!

 'What do you think they've got for dinner? Blow, boys, blow! Hot water soup, but a dum sight thinner, Blow, my bully boys, blow!

 'Oh, blow to-day and blow to-morrer, Blow, boys, blow! And blow for all old salts in sorrer, Blow, my bully----'

"Oh, say, Cap'n Sears!"

"Yes, Judah?"

"They've put up the name sign on the Fair Harbor since you was inBayport afore, ain't they? We're right off abreast of it now. Can't youhist yourself up and look over the side? It's some consider'ble of asign, that is. Lobelia she left word to have that sign painted and setup last time she was here. She's over acrost in one of them Eyetalianports now, so I understand, her and that feller she married. Eh? Ain'tthat quite a sign, now, Cap'n?"

Kendrick, because his driver seemed to be so eager, sat up and lookedover the sideboard of the truck-wagon. The vehicle was just passing along stretch of ornate black iron fence in the center of which was astill more ornate gate with an iron arch above it. In the curve of thearch swung a black sign, its edges gilded, and with this legend printedupon it in gilt letters:

 FAIR HARBOR

 For Mariners' Women

 "Without, the stormy winds increase, Within the harbor all is peace. "

Behind the fence was a good-sized tract of lawn heavily shaded withtrees, a brick walk, and at the rear a large house. The house itself wasof the stately Colonial type and its simple dignity was in markedcontrast to the fence. 

Captain Kendrick recognized the establishment of course. It, with itsnext door neighbor the General Minot place, was for so many years thehome of old Captain Sylvanus Seymour. Captain Sylvanus, during hislifetime, was active claimant for the throne of King of Bayport. He wasthe town's leading Democratic politician, its wealthiest citizen, withpossibly one exception--its most lavish entertainer--with the samepossible exception--and when the Governor came to the Cape on "CattleShow Day" he was sure to be a guest at the Seymour place--unless GeneralAshahel Minot, who was the exception mentioned--had gotten hisinvitation accepted first. For General Minot was Bayport's leading Whig, as Captain Sylvanus was its leading Democrat, and the rivalry betweenthe two was intense. Nevertheless, they were, in public at least, extremely polite and friendly, and when they did agree--as on mattersconcerning the village tax rate and the kind of doctrine permitted to bepreached in the Orthodox meeting-house--their agreement was absolute andoverwhelming. In their day the Captain and the General dominated Bayportby sea and land. 

But that day had passed. They had both been dead for some years. CaptainSeymour died first and his place and property were inherited by hismaiden daughter, Miss Lobelia Seymour. Sears Kendrick remembered Lobeliaas a dressy, romantic spinster, very much in evidence at the churchsocials and at meetings of the Shakespeare Reading Society, and who sanga somewhat shrill soprano in the choir. 

Now, as he looked over the side of Judah Cahoon's truck-wagon and sawthe sign hanging beneath the arch above the gate of the Seymour place hebegan dimly to remember other things, bits of news embodied in letterswhich his sister, Sarah Macomber, had written him at various times. Lobelia Seymour had--she had done something with the family home, something unusual. What was it? Why, yes. .. . 

"Judah, " he said, "Lobelia Seymour turned that place into a--a sort ofhome, didn't she?"

Judah twisted on the wagon seat to stare at him. 

"What are you askin' me that for, Cap'n Sears?" he demanded. "You knowmore about it than I do, I guess likely. Anyhow, you ought to; you wasbrought up in Bayport; I wasn't. "

"Yes, but I've been away from it ten times longer than I've been in it. I'd forgotten all about Lobelia. Seems to me Sarah wrote me somethin'about her, though, and that she had turned her father's place into ahome for women. "

"For mariners' women, that's what she calls it. Didn't you see it on thesign? Ho, ho! that's a good one, ain't it, Cap'n Sears? 'Mariners'women!' Course what it means is sea cap'ns widders and sisters and such, but it does sound kind of Brigham Youngy, don't it? Haw, haw! Well, fur's that goes I have known mariners that--Hi! 'Vast heavin' there!What in time you tryin' to do, carry away that gate post? Whoa! Jumpin'creepin', limpin'---- Whoa! _Look_ at the critter!" in huge disgust andreferring to the white horse, who had suddenly evinced a desire to turnin at a narrow driveway and to gallop while doing so. "Look at him!"repeated Judah. "When I go up to the depot he'll stand right in themiddle of the railroad track and go to sleep. I have to whale thetimbers out of him to get him awake enough to step ahead so's a train ofcars won't stave in his broadside. But get him home here where he cansee the barn, the place where he knows I stow the oats, and he wants torun right over top of a stone wall. Can't hardly hold him, I can't. Who-a-a!. .. Well, Cap'n Sears, here we be at the General Minot place. Here's where I sling my hammock these days. "

Kendrick looked about him, at the grassy back yard, with the ancientsettee beneath the locust tree, the raspberry and currant bushes alongthe wall, the venerable apple and pear trees on the other side of thewall, at the trellis over the back door and the grape vine heavilyfestooning it, at the big weather-beaten barn, carriage house andpig-pens beyond. Turning, he looked upward at the high rambling house, its dormers and gables, its white clapboards and green window blinds. The sunlight streamed over it, but beneath the vine-hung lattice andunder the locust tree were coolness and shadow. The wing of the bighouse, projecting out to the corner of the drive, shut off the view toor from the road. Somehow, the whole yard, with its peace and quiet andsunshine and shadow, and above all, its retirement, made a great appeal. It seemed so homelike, so shut away, so comforting, like a shelteredlittle backwater where a storm-beaten craft might lie snug. 

Mr. Cahoon made anxious inquiry. 

"What do you think of it, Cap'n?" he asked. 

His visitor did not reply. Instead he said, "Judah, I'd like to see yourquarters inside, may I?"

"Sartin sure you may. Right this way. Look out for the rocks in thechannel, " indicating the brick floor beneath the lattice. "Two or threeof them bricks stick up more'n they ought to. Twice since I've been herethe stem of one of my boots has fetched up on them bricks and I've allbut pitch-poled. Take your time, Cap'n Sears, take your time. Here, leanon my shoulder, I'll pilot you. "

The captain smiled. "Much obliged, Judah, " he said, "but I shan't needyour shoulder. There aren't any stairs to climb, are there? Stairclimbin' is too much for me yet awhile. Perhaps it will always be. Idon't know. "

The tone in which he uttered the last sentence caused his companion toturn his head and regard him with concern. 

"Sho, sho, sho!" he exclaimed, hastily. "What kind of talk's that, Cap'n! I'll live to see you shin up and hang your hat on the main truckyet. .. . There, here's the galley. Like it, do you?"

The "galley" was, of course, the kitchen. It was huge and low and veryold-fashioned. Also it was, just now, spotlessly clean. From it openedthe woodshed, and toward the front, the dining room. 

"I don't eat in here much, " observed Judah, referring to the diningroom. "Generally mess in the galley. Comes more natural to me. Thesettin' room, and back parlor and front parlor are out for'ard yonder. Come on, Cap'n Sears. "

The captain shook his head. "Never mind them just now, " he said. "I wantto see the bedrooms, those you use, Judah. That is, unless they're upaloft. "

"No, no. Right on the lower deck, both of 'em. Course there _is_ plentymore up aloft, but, as I told you, I never bother 'em. Here's my berth, "opening a door from the sitting room. "And here's what I call my sparestateroom. I keep it ready for comp'ny. Not that I ever have any, youunderstand. "

Judah's bedroom was small and snug. The "spare stateroom" was a triflelarger. In both were the old-fashioned mahogany furniture of ourgreat-grandfathers. Mr. Cahoon apologized for it. 

"Kind of old-timey stuff down below here, " he explained. "Just commonfolks used these rooms, I judge likely. But you'd ought to see them upon the quarter deck. There's your high-toned fixin's! Marble tops to thebureaus and tables and washstands, and fruit--peaches and pears and allsorts--carved out on the headboards of the beds, and wreaths on thewalls all made out of shells, and--and kind of brass doodads at the topsof the window curtains. Style, don't talk!. .. Sort of a pretty look-offthrough that deadlight, ain't there, Cap'n Sears? Seems so to me. "

Kendrick had raised the window shade of the spare stateroom and waslooking out. The view extended across the rolling hills and little pinegroves and cranberry bogs, to the lower road with its white houses andshade trees. And beyond the lower road were more hills and pines, apretty little lake--Crowell's Pond, it was called--sand dunes and thenthe blue water of the Bay. The captain looked at the view for a fewmoments, then, turning, looked once more at the room and its furniture. 

"So you've never had a passenger in your spare stateroom, Judah?" heasked. 

"Nary one, not yet. "

"Expectin' any?"

"Nary one. Don't know nobody to expect. "

"But you think it would be all right if you did have some one? Yourer--owner--young Minot, I mean, wouldn't object?"

"Object! No, no. He told me to. 'I should think you'd die livin' herealone, ' he says. 'Why don't you take a boarder? I would if I was you. '"

Sears Kendrick stopped looking at the room and its furniture and turnedhis gaze upon his former cook. 

"Take a boarder?" he repeated. "Did Ogden Minot tell you to take aboarder? And do you think he meant it?"

"Sartin sure he meant it. He don't care what I do--in reason, ofcourse. "

"Humph!. .. Well, then, Judah, why don't you take one?"

"Eh? Take one what? A boarder? Who'd I take, for thunder's sakes?"

Captain Kendrick smiled. 

"Me, " he said. 

CHAPTER III

For the half hour which followed the captain's utterance of that simplelittle word, "Me, " exclamation, protestation and argument heated andunwontedly disturbed the atmosphere of the Minot spare stateroom andwhen the discussion adjourned there, of the little back yard. The oldwhite horse, left to himself and quite forgotten, placidly meandered onuntil he reached a point where he could reach the tender foliage of ayoung pear tree which leaned over the wall toward him. Then, with a sighof content, he proceeded to devour the tree. No one paid the leastattention to him. Captain Kendrick, now seated upon the bench beneaththe locust, was quietly but persistently explaining why he desired tobecome a boarder and lodger at Mr. Cahoon's quarters on the after lowerdeck of the General Minot house, and Judah was vociferously andprofanely expostulating against such an idea. 

"It ain't fittin', I tell you, " he declared, over and over again. "Itain't fittin', it's the craziest notion ever I heard tell of. What'llfolks think if they know you're here--you, Cap'n Sears Kendrick, thatall hands knows is the smartest cap'n that ever sailed out of Bostonharbor? What'll they say if they know you've hove anchor along of me, stayin' here in the--in the fo'castle of this house; eatin' the grub Icook--"

"I've eaten your cookin' for a good many months at a stretch, Judah. Younever heard me find any fault with it, did you?"

"Don't make no odds. That's different, Cap'n Sears, and you know 'tis. It's ridiculous, stark, ravin' ridiculous. "

"So you don't care for my company?"

"Don't tuk so! Wouldn't I be proud to have ye? Wouldn't I ruther haveyou aboard here than anybody else on earth? Course I would!"

"All right. And you're goin' to have me. So that's all settled. "

"Settled! Who said 'twas settled? Course 'tain't settled. You don'tunderstand, Cap'n Sears. 'Tain't how I feel about it. 'Tain't even maybehow you feel about it. But how'll your sister feel about it? How'll Joelfeel? How'll the doctor feel? How'll the folks in town feel? How'll--"

"Oh, shh! shh! Avast, Judah! How'll the cat feel? And the pig? What do Icare? How'll your old horse feel if he eats the other half of that peartree? That's considerably more important. "

Judah turned, saw the combination of ancient equine and youthful treeand rushed bellowing to the rescue of the latter. When he returned, empty of profanity and copiously perspiring, his former skipper wasready for him. 

"Listen, Judah, " he said. "Listen, and keep your main hatch closed forfive minutes, if you can. I want to come here to board with you for awhile and I've got the best reasons on earth. Keep still and I'll tellyou again what they are. "

He proceeded to give those reasons. They were that he had little moneyand must therefore live inexpensively. He would not remain at hissister's because she had more than enough care and work in her ownfamily. George Kent boarded with her and one boarder was sufficient. Then--and this was the principal reason for selecting the General Minotspare stateroom--he wished to live somewhere away from observation, where he could be alone, or nearly alone, where he would not be plaguedwith questions. 

"You see, Judah, " he said, "I've had a bump in more ways than one. Mypride was knocked flat as well as my pocket book. The doctor says I'vegot to stay ashore for a good while. He says it will be months beforeI'm ready for sea--if I'm ever ready--"

"Hold on, hold on! Cap'n Sears, you mustn't talk so. Course you'll beready. "

"All right, we'll hope I will. But while I'm gettin' ready to be ready Iwant to lie snug. I don't want to see a whole lot of people and have tolisten to--to sympathy and all that. I've made a fool of myself, andthat kind of a fool doesn't deserve sympathy. And I don't want it, anyhow. Give me a pair of sound spars and my health once more and youwon't find me beggin' for sympathy--no, nor anything else. .. . Butthere, " he added, straightening and throwing back his shoulders in theway Judah had seen him do so often on shipboard and which his mates hadlearned to recognize as a sign that the old man's mind was made up, "that's enough of that. Let's stick to the course. I like this place ofyours, Judah, and I'm comin' here to live. I'm weak yet and you canthrow me out, of course, " he added, "but I tell you plainly you can't_talk_ me out, so it's no use to try. "

Nevertheless, Mr. Cahoon kept on trying and, when he did give in onlygave in halfway. If Captain Sears was bound to do such a fool thing hedidn't know how he was going to stop him, but at least he did insistthat the captain should take a trial cruise before signing on for thewhole voyage. 

"I tell you what you do, Cap'n Sears, " he said. "You make me a littlevisit of--of two, three days, say. Then, if you cal'late you can standthe grub--and me--and if the way Bayport folks'll be talkin' ain'tenough to send you back to Sary's again, why--why, then I suppose youcan stay right along, if you want to. _'Twould_ be fine to have youaboard! Whew!"

He grinned from ear to ear. The captain accepted the compromise. 

"All right, Judah, " he said. "We'll call the first few days a visit andI'll begin by stayin' to dinner now. How'll that do, eh?"

Mr. Cahoon affirmed that it would do finely. The only drawback was thatthere was nothing in the house for dinner. 

"I was cal'latin' to go down to the shore, " he said, "and dig a bucketof clams. Course they'll do well enough for me, but for you--"

"For me they will be just the ticket, " declared Kendrick. "Go ahead anddig 'em, Judah. And on the way stop and tell Sarah I'm goin' to stayhere and help eat 'em. After dinner--well, after dinner I shall have togo back there again, I suppose, but to-morrow I'm comin' up here tostay. "

So, still under protest, Judah, having unloaded the seaweed, climbedonce more to the high seat of the truck-wagon and the old horse draggedhim out of the yard. After the row of trees bordering the road hadhidden him from sight Kendrick could hear the rattle of the cart and afragment of the _Dreadnought_ chantey. 

 "Now the _Dreadnought's_ becalmed on the banks of Newfoundland, Where the water's all green and the bottom's all sand. Says the fish of the ocean that swim to and fro: 'She's the Liverpool packet, good Lord, let her go. '"

Rattle and chantey died away in the distance. Quiet, warm and lazy, settled down upon the back yard of the General Minot place. A robinpiped occasionally and, from somewhere off to the left, hens clucked, but these were the only sounds. Kendrick judged that the hens mustbelong to neighbors; Judah had expressed detestation of all poultry. There was not sufficient breeze to stir the branches of the locust orthe leaves of the grapevine. The captain leaned back on the settee andyawned. He felt a strong desire to go to sleep. 

Now sleeping in the daytime had always been a trick which he despisedand against which he had railed all his life. He had declared timeswithout number that a man who slept in the daytime--unless of course hehad been on watch all night or something like that--was a loafer, a goodfor nothing, a lubber too lazy to be allowed on earth. The day was aperiod made for decent, respectable people to work in, and for a man whodid not work, and love to work, Captain Sears Kendrick had no usewhatever. Many so-called able seamen, and even first and second mates, had received painstaking instructions in this section of their skipper'scode. 

But now--now it was different. Why shouldn't he sleep in the daytime?There was nothing else for him to do. He had no business to transact, noowners to report to, no vessel to load or unload or to fit for sea. Hehad heard the doctor's whisper--not meant for his ears--that his legsmight never be right again, and the word "might" had, he believed, beensubstituted for one of much less ambiguous meaning. No, all he was fitfor, he reflected bitterly, was to sit in the sun and sleep, like an olddog with the rheumatism. He sighed, settled himself upon the bench andclosed his eyes. 

But he opened them again almost at once. During that very brief intervalof darkness there had flashed before his mind a picture of a small parkin New York as he had once seen it upon a summer Sunday afternoon. Thepark walks had been bordered with rows of benches and upon each benchslumbered at least one human derelict who, apparently, realized hisworthlessness and had given up the fight. Captain Kendrick sat uprighton the settee, beneath the locust tree. Was he, too, givingup--surrendering to Fate? No, by the Lord, he was not! And he was notgoing to drop off to sleep on that settee like one of those tramps on apark bench. 

He rose to his feet, picked up his cane, and started to walk--somewhere. Direction made little difference, so long as he kept awake and keptgoing. There was a path leading off between the raspberry and currantbushes, and slowly, but stubbornly, he limped along that path. The pathended at a gate in a white picket fence. The gate was unlatched andthere was an orchard on the other side of it. Captain Sears opened thegate and limped on under the apple trees. They were old trees and largeand the shade they cast was cool and pleasant. The soft green slopebeneath them tempted him strongly. He was beginning to realize thatthose shaky legs of his were tiring in this, the longest walk they hadattempted since the accident. He had a mind to sit down upon the bankbeneath the apple trees and rest. Then he remembered the mental pictureof the tramps on the park benches and stubbornly refused to yield. Leaning more heavily upon his cane, he limped on. 

The path emerged from beneath the apple trees, ascended a little riseand disappeared around the shoulder of a high thick clump of lilacs. Kendrick, tiring more and more rapidly, plodded on. His suffering limbswere, so to speak, shrieking for mercy but he would not give it to them. He set himself a "stint"; he would see what was beyond the clump oflilacs, then he would rest, and then he would hobble back to the Minotyard. Incidentally he realized that he had been a fool ever to leave it. 

His teeth grimly set and each step a labor, he plodded up the littlerise and turned the corner of the lilac bushes. There he stopped, notentirely because his "stint" was done, but because what he saw surprisedhim. 

Beyond the lilacs was a small garden, or rather a series of smallgardens. The divisions between them appeared to be exactly the same sizeand the plots themselves precisely the same size and shape. Therewere--although the captain did not learn this until later--seven ofthese plots, each exactly six by nine feet. But there resemblanceceased, for each was planted and arranged with a marked individuality. For example, the one nearest the lilac bushes was laid out in a sort ofcheckerboard pattern of squares, one square containing a certain sort ofold-fashioned flower and its neighbors other varieties. The plotadjoining the checkerboard was arranged in diamonds and spirals; theplanting here was floral also, whereas the next was evidentlyutilitarian, being given up entirely to corn, potatoes, onions, beetsand other vegetables. And the next seemed to be covered with nothingexcept a triumphant growth of weeds. 

At the rear of these odd garden plots was a little octagonal building, evidently a summer-house. Over its door, a door fronting steps leadingdown to the gardens, was a sign bearing the name "The Eyrie. " And behindthe summer-house was a stretch of rather shabby lawn, a half dozentrees, and the rear of a large house. Captain Sears recognized the houseas the Seymour residence, now the "Fair Harbor. " He had strayed off thecourse and was trespassing upon his neighbors' premises. This fact wasimmediately brought to his attention. From somewhere at the rear of thegardens a shrill feminine voice exclaimed:

"Mercy on us! Who's that?"

And another feminine voice chimed in:

"Eh! I declare it's a man, ain't it?"

And the first voice observed sharply:

"Of course it is. You didn't think I thought it was a cow, did you?"

"But what's he doin' here? Is he a tramp?

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Hi! Here! You--man--where areyou going?"

Captain Sears had, by this time, located the voices as coming from the"Eyrie, " the summer-house with the poetical name. He had so far, however, been able to see nothing of the speakers. But now the tangle ofwoodbine and morning-glory which draped the front of the summer-housewas drawn aside and revealed a rustic window--or unglazed windowopening--with two heads framed in it like a double portrait. Both ofthese heads were feminine, but one was thin-faced and sharp-featured, and gray-haired, while the other was like a full moon--a full moon withseveral chins--and its hair was a startlingly vivid black parted in themiddle and with a series of very regular ripples on each side. 

It was the thin face which was hailing him. The other was merelystaring, open-eyed and open-mouthed. 

"Here, you--man!" repeated the shrill voice--belonging to the thin face. "Where are you going?"

The captain smiled. "Why, nowhere in particular, ma'am, " he replied. "Iwas just figurin' that I'd gone about as far as I could this voyage. "

His smile became a chuckle, but there were no symptoms of amusementvisible upon the faces framed in the window of the Eyrie. The thin lipsmerely pressed tighter and the plump ones opened wider, that was all. 

"Why don't you answer my question?" demanded the thin woman. "What areyou doing on these premises?"

"Why, nothin' in particular, ma'am. I was just tryin' to take a littlewalk and not makin' a very good job at it. "

There was an interruption here. The full moon broke in to ask a questionof its own. 

"Who is he? What's he talkin' about?" it demanded. 

"I don't know who he is--yet. "

"Well, what's he talkin' about? Make him speak louder. "

"I will, if you give me a chance. He says he is taking a walk. What areyou taking a walk in here for? Don't you know it isn't allowed?"

"Why, no, ma'am, I didn't. In fact I didn't realize I was in here untilI--well--until I got here. "

"What is he sayin'?" demanded the moon-face again, and somewhat testily. "I can't hear a word. "

Now the captain's tone had been at least ordinarily loud, so it wasevident that the plump woman's hearing was defective. Her curiosity, however, was not in the least impaired. 

"What's that man talkin' about now?" she persisted. Her companion becameimpatient. 

"Oh, I don't know, " she snapped. "Do give me a chance, won't you? Ithink he's been drinking. He says he doesn't know where he is or how hegot here. "

Kendrick thought it high time to protest. Also to raise his voice whendoing so. 

"That wasn't exactly it, " he shouted. "I was takin' a little walk, that's all. I have to navigate pretty slow for my legs aren't justright. "

"What did he say wa'n't right?" demanded the plump female. 

"His legs. "

"Eh! Legs! What's he talkin' about his legs for?"

"Oh, I don't know! Do be still a minute. It's his head that isn't right, I guess he means. .. . Don't you know you're trespassing? What do youmean by coming in here?"

"Well, ma'am, I didn't mean anything in particular. I just happened inby accident. I'm sorry. "

"Humph! You didn't come in here to run off with anything that didn'tbelong to you, I hope. "

The captain looked at her for a moment. Then his lip twitched. 

"No, ma'am, " he said, solemnly, "I didn't come with that idea--but--"

"But? What do you mean by 'but'?"

"But I didn't realize what there was in here to run off with. If Ihad. .. . There, I guess I'd better go. Good day, ladies. Sorry I troubledyou. "

He lifted his cap, turned, and limped out of sight around the clump oflilacs. From behind him came a series of indignant gasps andexclamations. 

"Why--why--Well, I never in all my born days! The saucy, impudent--"

And the voice of the moon-faced one raised in bewildered entreaty:

"What was it? What did he say? Elviry Snowden, why don't you tell mewhat 'twas he _said_?"

Captain Kendrick hobbled back to the Minot yard. He hobbled through theorchard gate, leaving it ajar, and reaching the bench beneath the locusttree, collapsed upon it. For some time he was conscious of very littleexcept the ache in his legs and the fact that breathing was a difficultand jerky operation. Then, as the fatigue and pain ceased to be asinsistent, the memory of his interview with the pair in the Eyriereturned to him and he began to chuckle. After a time he fancied that heheard a sympathetic chuckle behind him. It seemed to come from thevegetable garden, Judah's garden, which, so Mr. Cahoon told his formerskipper, he had set out himself and was "sproutin' and comin' upbetter'n ary other garden in the town of Bayport, if I do say it asshouldn't. "

Kendrick could not imagine who could be chuckling in that garden. Alsohe could not imagine where the chuckler could be hiding, unless it wasbehind the rows of raspberry and currant bushes. Slowly and painfully herose to his feet and peered over the bushes. Then the mystery wasexplained. The "chuckles" were clucks. A flock of at least a dozenhealthy and energetic hens were enthusiastically busy in the Cahoonbeds. Their feet were moving like miniature steam shovels and showers ofearth and infant vegetables were moving likewise. Judah had boasted thatthe fruits of his planting were "comin' up. " If he had seen them at thatmoment he would have realized how fast they were coming up. 

The sight aroused Captain Kendrick's ire. He was, in a way of speaking, guardian of that vegetable patch. Judah had not formally appointed himto that position, but he had gone away and, by the fact of so doing, hadleft it in his charge. He felt responsible for its safety. 

"Shoo!" shouted the captain and, leaning upon his cane, limped towardthe garden. 

"Shoo!" he roared again. The hens paid about as much attention to theroar as a gang of ditch diggers might pay to the buzz of a mosquito. Obviously something more drastic than shooing was necessary. The captainstooped and picked up a stone. He threw the stone and hit a hen. Sherose in the air with a frightened squawk, ran around in a circle, andthen, coming to anchor in a patch of tiny beets, resumed excavatingoperations. 

Kendrick picked up another stone, a bigger one, and threw that. Hemissed the mark this time, but the shot was not entirely withoutresults; it hit one of Mr. Cahoon's cucumber frames and smashed a paneto atoms. The crash of glass had the effect of causing some of the fowlto stop digging and appear nervous. But these were in the minority. 

The captain was, by this time, annoyed. He was on the verge of losinghis temper. Beyond the little garden and between the raspberry andcurrant bushes he caught a glimpse of the path and the gate throughwhich he had just come on his way back from the grounds of the FairHarbor. That gate he saw, with a twinge of conscience, was wide open. Obviously he must have neglected to latch it on passing through, it hadswung open, and the hens had taken advantage of the sally port to maketheir foray upon Judah's pet vegetables. They were Fair Harbor hens. Somehow this fact did not tend to deepen Sears Kendrick's affection forthem. 

"Shoo! Clear out, you pesky nuisances!" he shouted, and waving his cane, charged laboriously down upon the fowl. They retreated before him, buttheir retreat was strategic. They moved from beets to cabbages, fromcabbages to young corn, from corn to onions. And they scratched andpecked as they withdrew. Nevertheless, they were withdrawing and in thedirection of the open gate; in the midst of his panting and pain thecaptain found a slight comfort in the fact that he was driving thecreatures toward the gate. 

At last they were almost there--that is, the main body. Kendrick noted, with sudden uneasiness, that there were stragglers. A gaily decoratedold rooster, a fowl with a dissipated and immoral swagger and a knowing, devil-may-care tilt of the head, was sidling off to the left. Two orthree young pullets were following the lead of this ancient pirate, evidently fascinated by his recklessness. The captain turned to head offthe wanderers. They squawked and ran hither and thither. He succeeded inturning them back, but, at the moment of his success, heard triumphantcluckings at his rear. The rest of the flock had, while his attentionwas diverted by the rooster and his followers, galloped joyfully back tothe garden again. Now, as Captain Sears gazed, the rooster and hissatellites flew to join them. All hands--or, more literally, allfeet--resumed excavating with the abandon of conscientious workersstriving to make up lost time. 

And now Sears Kendrick did lose his temper. Probably at another time hemight have laughed, but now he was tired, in pain, and in no mood to seethe humorous side of the situation. He expressed his opinion of the hensand the rooster, using quarter deck idioms and withholding little. Ifthe objects of his wrath were disturbed they did not show it. If theywere shocked they hid their confusion in the newly turned earth of JudahCahoon's squash bed. 

Whether they were shocked or not Sears did not stop to consider. Heintended to shock them to the fullest extent of the word's meaning. Athis feet was a stick, almost a log, part of the limb of a pear tree. Hepicked up this missile and hurled it at the marauders. It missed thembut it struck in the squash bed and tore at least six of the delicateyoung squashlings from their moorings. Kendrick plunged after it--thehens separating as he advanced and rejoining at his rear--picked up thelog and, turning, again hurled it. 

"There!" roared the captain, "take that, damn you!"

One of the hens did "take it. " So did some one else. The missile struckjust beneath the fowl as she fled, lifted her and a peck or two of soilas well, and hurled the whole mass almost into the face of a person who, unseen until then, had advanced along the path from the gate and hadarrived at that spot at that psychological instant. This person uttereda little scream, the hen fled with insane yells, the log and itsaccompanying shower fell back to earth, and Sears Kendrick and the youngwoman--for the newcomer was a young woman--stood and looked at eachother. 

She was bareheaded and her hair was dark and abundant, and she waswearing a gingham dress and a white apron. So much he noticed at this, their first meeting. Afterward he became aware that she was slender andthat her age might perhaps be twenty-four or twenty-five. At thatmoment, of course, he did not notice anything except that her apron anddress--yes, even her hair and face--were plentifully besprinkled withearth and that she was holding a hand to her eyes as if they, too, mighthave received a share of the results of the terrestrial disturbance. 

"Oh!" he stammered. "I'm awfully sorry! I--I hope I didn't hurt you. "

If she heard him she did not answer, but, removing her hand, opened andshut her eyes rapidly. The captain's alarm grew as he watched thisproceeding. 

"I--I _do_ hope I didn't hurt you, " he repeated. "It--it didn't put youreyes out, did it?"

She smiled, although rather uncertainly. "No, " she said. 

"You're sure?"

"Yes. " The smile became broader. "It's not quite as bad as that, Iguess. I seem to be able to see all right. "

He drew a relieved breath. "Well, I'm thankful for so much, then, " heannounced. "But it's all over your dress--and--and in your hair--and. .. . Oh, I _am_ sorry!"

She laughed at this outburst. "It is all right, " she declared. "Ofcourse it was an accident, and I'm not hurt a bit, really. "

"I'm glad of that. Yes, it was an accident--your part of it, I mean. Ididn't see you at all. I meant the part the hen got, though. "

Her laugh was over, but there was still a twinkle in her eye. Kendrickwas, by this time, aware that her eyes were brown. 

"Yes, " she observed, demurely, "I--gathered that you did. "

"Yes, I--" It suddenly occurred to him that his language had been asemphatic as his actions. "Good lord!" he exclaimed. "I forgot. I begyour pardon for that, too. When I lose my temper I am liable to--to makesalt water remarks, I'm afraid. And those hens. .. . Eh? There they areagain, hard at it! Will you excuse me while I kill three or four of 'em?You see, I'm in charge of that garden and. .. . _Get out!_"

This last was, of course, another roar at the fowl, who, under theleadership of the rake-helly rooster, were scratching harder than everin the beds. The captain reached for another missile, but his visitorstepped forward. 

"Please don't, " she begged. "Please don't kill them. "

"Eh? Why not? They ought to be killed. "

"I know it, but I don't want them killed--yet, at any rate. You see, they are my hens. "

"Yours?" The captain straightened up and looked at her. "You don't meanit?" he exclaimed. 

"Yes, I do. They are mine, or my mother's, which is the same thing. I amdreadfully sorry they got in here. I'll have them out in just a minute. Oh, yes, I will, really. "

Kendrick regarded her doubtfully. 

"Well, " he said, slowly, "I know it isn't polite to contradict a ladybut if you'll tell me _how_ you are goin' to get 'em out without killin''em, I'll be ever so much obliged. You can't drive 'em, I know that. "

"I shan't try. Just wait, I'll be right back. "

She hurried away, down the path and through the open gate. Captain SearsKendrick looked after her. Behind and about him the Fair Harbor hensclucked and scratched blissfully. 

In very little more than the promised minute the young woman returned. She carried a round wooden receptacle--what Cape Codders used to call a"two quart measure"--and, as she approached, she shook it. Somethingwithin rattled. The hens, some of them, heard the rattle and ceasedtheir digging. 

"Come, chick, chick! Come, biddy, biddy, biddy!" called the young woman, rattling the measure. More of the fowl gave up their labors, and lookedand listened. Some even began to follow her. She dipped a hand into themeasure, withdrew it filled with corn, and scattered a few grains in thepath. 

"Come, biddy, biddy, biddy!" she said again. 

And the biddies came. Forgetting the possibilities of Judah Cahoon'sgarden, they rushed headlong upon the golden certainties of those yellowkernels. The young woman retreated along the path, scattering corn asshe went, and after her scrambled and pecked and squawked the fowl. Eventhe sophisticated rooster yielded to temptation and was among theleaders in the rush. The corn bearer and the flock passed through theopen gate, along the path beneath the Fair Harbor apple trees, out ofsight around the bend. Sears Kendrick was left alone upon the battleground, amid the dead and wounded young vegetables. 

But he was not left alone long. A few minutes later his visitorreturned. She had evidently hurried, for there was a red spot on each ofher cheeks and she was breathing quickly. She passed through the gateinto the grounds of the General Minot place and closed that gate behindher. 

"There!" she said. "Now they are locked up in the hen yard. How in theworld they ever got out of there I don't see. I suppose some one leftthe gate open. I--What were you going to say?"

The captain had been about to confess that it was he who left the gateopen, but he changed his mind. Apparently she had been on the point ofsaying something more. The confession could wait. 

"What was it?" asked the young woman. 

"Oh, nothin', nothin'. "

"Well, I suppose it doesn't matter much how they got out, as long asthey did. But I am _very_ sorry they got into Mr. Cahoon's garden. Ihope they haven't completely ruined it. "

They both turned to survey the battlefield. It was--like allbattlefields after the strife is ended--a sad spectacle. 

"Oh, dear!" exclaimed the visitor. "I am afraid they have. What _will_Mr. Cahoon say?"

The captain smiled slightly. 

"I hope you don't expect me to answer that, " he observed. 

"Why?. .. Oh, I see! Well, I don't know that I should blame him much. Have--have they left anything?"

"Oh, yes! Yes, indeed. There are a good many--er--sprouts left. And theydug up a lot of weeds besides. Judah ought to be thankful for the weeds, anyhow. "

"I am afraid he won't be, under the circumstances. "

"Maybe not, but there is one thing that, under the same circumstances, he _ought_ to be thankful for. That is, that you came when you did. Youmay not know it, but I had been tryin' to get those hens out of thatgarden for--for a year, I guess. It seems longer, but I presume likelyit wasn't more than a year. "

She laughed again. "No, " she said, "I guess it wasn't more than that. "

"Probably not. If it had been any longer, judgin' by the way they worked, they'd have dug out the underpinnin' and had the house down by this time. How did you happen to come? Did you hear the--er--broadsides?"

"Why, no, I--But that reminds me. Have you seen a tramp around here?"

"A tramp? What sort of a tramp?"

"I don't know. Elvira--I mean Miss Snowden--said he was a tall, dark manand Aurora thought he was rather thick-set and sandy. But they bothagree that he was a dreadful, rough-looking creature who carried a bigclub and had a queer slouchy walk. And he came in this direction, sothey thought. "

"He did, eh? Humph! Odd I didn't see him. I've been here all the time. Where was he when they saw him first?"

"Over on our property. In the Fair Harbor grounds, I mean. He came outof the bushes, so Elvira and Aurora say, and spoke to them. Insultedthem, Elvira says. "

"Sho! Well, well! I wonder where he went. "

"I can't think. I supposed of course you must have seen him. It was onlya little while ago, not more than an hour. Have you been here all thattime?"

"Yes, I've been here for the last two hours. What part of your groundswas it? Would you like to have me go over there and look around?"

"No, thank you. You are very kind, but I am sure it won't be necessary. He has gone by now, of course. "

"I should be glad to try. " Then, noticing her glance at his limp, headded: "Oh, I can navigate after a fashion, well enough for a shortcruise like that. But it is funny that, if there was a tramp there sucha little while ago, I didn't run afoul of him. Why, I was over theremyself. "

"You were?"

"Yes, you see, I----"

He stopped short. He had been about to tell of his short walk and how hehad inadvertently trespassed within the Fair Harbor boundaries. Butbefore he could speak the words a sudden and amazing thought flashedupon him. 

"Eh?" he cried. "Why--why, I wonder----"

His visitor was leaning forward. Judging by her expression, she, too, was experiencing a similar sensation of startled surmise. 

"Why----" repeated the captain. 

"Oh!" exclaimed the young woman. 

"You don't suppose----"

"It couldn't possibly be that----"

"Wait a minute, please. Just a minute. " Sears held up his hand. "Wheredid those folks of yours see this tramp? Were they in a--in a kind ofroundhouse--summer-house, you might call it?"

"Why, yes. They were in the Eyrie. "

"That's it, the Eyrie. And is one of the--er--ladies rather tall andnarrow in the beam, gray-haired, and speaks quick and--school-marmy?"

"Yes. That is Miss Elvira Snowden. "

"Of course--Elvira. That's what the other one called her. And she--theother one--is short and broad and--and hard of hearin'?"

"Yes. Her name is Aurora Chase. Is it possible that you----"

"Just a second more. Has this short one got a--a queer sort of hair rig?Black as tar and with kind of--of wrinkles in it?"

She smiled at this description. "Yes, " she said. "Do you mean that _you_are----"

"The tramp? I guess likely I am. I was over on your premises just alittle while ago and met those two ladies. "

"But you can't be. They said he--the tramp--was a dreadful, rough man, with a club and--and----"

"Here's the club. " Captain Kendrick exhibited his cane. "And these lamelegs of mine would account for that slouchy walk they told you about. Iguess there isn't much doubt that I am the tramp. But I'm sorry if theythought I insulted 'em. I surely didn't mean to. "

He described the meeting by the Eyrie and repeated the dialogue as heremembered it. 

"So you see, " he said, in conclusion, "that's all there is to it. Isuppose that hint of mine about bein' tempted to run off with one of 'emis the nearest to an insult of any of it. Perhaps I shouldn't have saidit, but--but it popped into my head and I couldn't hold it back. Ididn't really mean it, " he added solemnly. "I wouldn't have run off withone of 'em for the world. "

This, and the accompanying look, was too much. His visitor had beenlistening and trying to appear grave, although her eyes were twinkling. But now she burst out laughing. 

"Honest I wouldn't, " reiterated Captain Sears. "And I'm sorry for thatinsult. "

"Absurd! You needn't be. If there was any insult it was the other wayabout. The idea of Elvira's suggesting that you came over there tosteal. Well, we've settled the tramp, at any rate, and I apologize forthe way you were treated, Mr. ----"

"Kendrick. My name is Kendrick. "

"Yes, Mr. Kendrick. And I am very sorry about the garden, too. Pleasetell Mr. Cahoon so, and tell him I think I can promise that the gatewon't be left open again. "

"I'll tell him when he comes back. He'll be here pretty soon, I guess. He and I are old shipmates. He shipped cook aboard of me for a good manyvoyages. "

She was moving toward the path and the gate, but now she paused andturned to look at him. There was a new expression on her face, anexpression of marked interest. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "Are you--are you Cap'n Sears Kendrick? The one whowas--hurt?"

"Wrecked in the train smash up? Yes, I'm the one. Look like a totalwreck, don't I?"

He laughed as he said it, but there was a taint of bitterness in thelaugh. She did not laugh. Instead she took a step toward him andinvoluntarily put out her hand. 

"Oh, I'm _so_ sorry!" she said. 

"Eh? Oh, you needn't be. I'm gettin' along tip-top. Able to walk andride and--er--chase hens. That's doin' pretty well for one day. "

"I know. But they were my--our--hens and they must have tired you so. Please forgive us. I won't, " with a smile, "ask you to forgive them. "

"Oh, that's all right, that's all right, Miss--er----"

"Berry. I am Elizabeth Berry. My mother is in charge here at theHarbor. "

"Harbor? Oh, yes, over yonder. Berry? Berry? The only Berry I rememberaround here was Cap'n Isaac Berry. Cap'n Ike, we young fellows used tocall him. I went to sea with him once, my first voyage second mate. "

"Did you? He was my father. But there, I _must_ go. Good-by, Cap'nKendrick. I hope you will get well very fast now. "

"Thanks. Good-bye. Oh, by the way, Miss Berry, what made you think Imight be Sears Kendrick? There are half a dozen Kendricks aroundBayport. "

"Yes, but--excuse me--there is only one Cap'n Sears Kendrick. You areone of Bayport's celebrities, Cap'n. "

"Humph! Notorieties, you mean. So all hands have been talkin' about me, eh? Humph! Well, I guessed as much. "

"Why, of course. You are one of our shining lights--sea lights, I mean. You must expect to be talked about. "

"I do--in Bayport, and I'll be talked about more in a day or two, Iguess. "

"Why?"

"Eh? Oh, nothin', nothin'. I was thinkin' out loud, didn't realize Ispoke. Good-by. "

"Good-by. "

The gate closed behind her. Kendrick sat down once more upon the benchbeneath the locust tree. 

When Judah returned with the bucket of clams he found his guest andprospective boarder just where he had left him. 

"Well, by Henry, Cap'n Sears!" he exclaimed. "Still at the same oldmoorin's, eh? Been anchored right there ever since I sot sail?"

"Not exactly, Judah. Pretty nearly, though. "

"Sho! Kind of dull music for you, I'm afraid. Whoa, you lop-sidedhay-barge! Stand still till I give you orders to move, will ye! That'swhat I warned you, Cap'n Sears; not much goin' on around here. You'll bepretty lonesome, I guess likely. "

"Oh, I guess I can stand it, Judah. I haven't been lonesome so far. "

"Ain't, eh? That's good. Well, I got my clams; now I'll steer this horseinto port and come back and get to work on that chowder. Oh, say, Cap'nSears; I see Sary and told her you was cal'latin' to stay here fordinner. "

"Did you? Much obliged. What did she say?"

"Say? She said a whole lot. Wanted to know how in time you got up here. 'You didn't let him _walk_ all that great long ways, Judah Cahoon?' shesays. 'I ain't altogether a fool, be I?' says I. "

Mr. Cahoon paused to search his pockets for a match. 

"What answer did she make to that?" asked the captain. Judah grinned. 

"Wa--ll, " he drawled, "she said, 'Perhaps not--altogether. ' 'Twan'tmuch, but it was enough of the kind, as the feller said about thetobacco in the coffee pot. Oh, say, that reminds me, Cap'n Sears; therewas somebody else talkin' about you. I--whoa, you camel, you! Creepin', crawlin', jumpin'---- Well, go ahead, then! I'll tell you the rest inhalf a shake, Cap'n. Git dap!"

Horse, cart and driver jogged and jolted into the barn. After a briefinterval Mr. Cahoon reappeared, carrying the clam bucket. They enteredthe kitchen together. Then the captain said:

"Judah, you said some one beside Sarah was talkin' about me. Who wasit?"

"Hey? Oh, 'twas Emeline Tidditt, her that's keepin' house for JudgeKnowles. She says the old judge is gettin' pretty feeble. Don't cal'latehe'll last out much longer, Emeline don't. Says it's nothin' but justgrit and hang-on that keeps him alive. He's a spunky old critter, JudgeKnowles is, 'cordin' to folks's tell. Course I don't know him same assome, but I cal'late he's a good deal on the general build and lines ofa man name of George Dingo that I run afoul of one time to a placecalled Semurny--over acrost. You know Semurny, don't ye, Cap'n? One ofthem Med'terranean port 'tis. "

"Smyrna, do you mean?"

"Um-hm. That's it, Semurny. I was there aboard the _William Holcomb_, out of Philadelphy. We was loadin' with figs and truck like that. Youremember the old _Holcomb_, don't you, Cap'n Sears? Sartin sure you do. Horncastle and Grant of Philadelphy they owned her. Old Horncastle was aqueer man as ever I see. Had a cork leg. Got the real one shot off inthe Mexican war or run over by a horse car, some said one and some saidt'other. Anyhow he had a cork one spliced on in place of it, and--ho, ho! 'twas as funny a sight as ever I see--one time he fell off the wharfthere in Philadelphy. Yes, sir, fell right into the dock, he did. Andwhen they scrabbled down the ladder to haul him in there wasn't nothin'in sight but that cork leg, stickin' up out of water. The rest of himhad gone under, but that cork leg hadn't--no, sire-ee! Haw, haw!Well . .. Er . .. Er. .. . What did I start to talk about, Cap'n Sears?"

"I don't know, Judah. It was a good while ago. You began by sayin' thatyou met Judge Knowles's housekeeper. "

"Hey? Why, sure and sartin!" Mr. Cahoon slapped his leg. "Sartin sure, Cap'n Sears, that was it. And I said she and me got to talkin' aboutyou. Well, well, well! I started right there and I fetched up way overin Semurny, along of George Dingo. Well, by Henry! Ain't that queer, now?"

He rubbed his legs and shook his head, apparently overcome by thequeerness of it. Kendrick, judging that another Mediterranean cruise wasimminent, made a remark calculated to keep him at home. 

"What did this--what's-her-name--this Tidditt woman say about me?" heasked. 

"Hey? Oh, she said that Judge Knowles wanted to see you. Said that heasked about you 'most every day, wanted to know how you was gittin'along, because just as soon as you was well enough to cruise on your ownhook he wanted you to come in and see him. "

"Judge Knowles wanted me to come in and see him? Why, that's funny! Idon't know the judge well. Haven't seen him for years, and then only twoor three times. What on earth can Judge Knowles have to say to me?. .. . Humph! I can't think. "

He tried to think, nevertheless. Judah busied himself with the sloppyprocess of clam opening. A little later he observed:

"So you wan't lonesome all alone here by yourself while I was gone, Cap'n? That's good. Glad to hear it. "

"Thanks, Judah. I wasn't alone, though. "

"You wan't? Sho! Do tell! Have company, did ye? Somebody run in?"

"Yes. And they wouldn't run out again, not for a good while. They cameon business. "

"Business? What kind of business?"

"Well, I suppose you might call it gardening. They were interested inraisin' vegetables, I know that. "

Judah laid down the clam knife and regarded his former skipper. "Raisin'vegetables?" he repeated slowly. "What--? Look here Cap'n Sears, who wasthey? Where'd they come from?"

"I believe they came from next door?"

"Next door? From the Harbor?" He rose to his feet, suspicion dawningupon his face above the whiskers. 

"Yes, Judah. "

"Cap'n Sears, answer me right straight out. Have those dummedeverlastin' Fair Harbor hens been in my garden again?"

"Yes, Judah. "

"Have they--have they?----" Words failed him. He strode up the path tothe garden. Then, after a moment's comprehensive gaze upon the scene ofruin, the words returned. 

CHAPTER IV

Sears Kendrick's prophecy that Bayport would, within the next day ortwo, talk about him even more than it had before was a true one. As soonas it became known that he had left the Macomber home and was boardingand lodging with Judah Cahoon in the rear portion of the General Minothouse every tongue in the village--tongues of animals and small childrenexcepted--wagged his name. At the sewing-circle, at the ShakespeareReading Society--convening that week at Mrs. Tabitha Crosby's--afterFriday night prayer-meeting at the Orthodox meeting-house, in EliphaletBassett's store at mail times, in the sitting-rooms and kitchens andaround breakfast, dinner and supper tables from West Bayport to EastBayport Neck and from Poverty Lane to Woodchuck's Misery--the principaltopic was Captain Kendrick's surprising move. 

"Why?" that was the question. 

Various answers were offered, many reasons suggested, but none satisfiedeverybody. 

At the Shakespeare Society meeting, just before the reading aloud of"Cymbeline" began--"Cymbeline" carefully edited, censored and kalsominedby the selective committee, Mrs. Reverend David Dishup and Miss TryphosaTaylor--the feelings of the genteel section of the community wereexpressed by no less a personage than Mrs. Captain Elkanah Wingate. Mrs. Wingate, speaking from the Mount Sinai of Bayport's aristocracy, madeproclamation thus:

"Why, if the man must leave his sister's and go somewhere else to live, _why_ in the world does he choose to go _there_? Aren't there good, respectable, genteel boarding-houses like--well, like yours, Naomi, forinstance? _I_ should say so. "

Mrs. Naomi Newcomb, whose home sheltered a few "paying guests, " smiledand shook her head. The shake indicated not a doubt of Mrs. Wingate'sjudgment, but complete loss as to Sears Kendrick's reasons for behavingas he had. Other members shook their heads also. Mary-Pashy Foster, whohad spent a winter in France when her husband was ill with the small-poxat Havre, shrugged her shoulders. 

"And, " continued Mrs. Captain Wingate, "when you consider the place hehas gone to and the person he has gone with! Good heavens, _I_ say! Goodheavens!"

More words and exclamations of approval. Several others declared thatthey said so, too. 

"Gone to live, " went on Mrs. Wingate, "not in the General Minot houseproper--there might be some explanation for _that_, perhaps--but theytell me that this Judah Cahoon only uses the back part of the house andthat Cap'n Kendrick has got a room just off the kitchen or thereabouts. "

"And Judah himself!" broke in Miss Taylor. "He is as rough and commonas--as--I don't know what. How a man like Cap'n Kendrick can lowerhimself--debase himself to such a person's level I _do_ not see. Youwould as soon expect a needle to go through a camel's eye, as the sayingis. "

There was a slight interval of embarrassment after this outburst. Themajority of those present realized that the speaker had gotten herproverb twisted, but, she being Miss Tryphosa Taylor, no one felt likeventuring to set her right. Mrs. Captain Godfrey Peasley relieved thesituation; she had a habit of relieving situations--when she did notmake them tenser. She had gotten into the Shakespeare Reading Societypurely by persistence and the possession of adamantine self-confidence. From that shot-proof exterior snubs, hints and reproofs glanced likeblown peas from the hull of a battleship. "Heaven knows, " confided Mrs. Captain Wingate to Miss Taylor and the Reverend Mrs. Dishup, "why AmeliaPeasley ever wanted to join the Society. She doesn't know whetherShakespeare is a man or a disease. " Which may or not have been true, the fact remaining that Mrs. Peasley _had_ wanted to join the Societyand--joined. 

Now, while others hesitated, following Miss Tryphosa's little blunder, she spoke. 

"I think, " she declared, with conviction, "that Sears Kendrick ought tobe ashamed of himself. _I_ think such actions are degradatin'--yes, indeed, right down degradatin'. "

After that, further comments upon the captain's conduct would haveseemed like anti-climaxes. Therefore the Society proceeded to read"Cymbeline. " Mrs. Peasley had something to say about "Cymbeline, " also. 

Captain Sears himself merely grinned when told of the sensation hisconduct was causing. 

"All right, " he said, "let 'em talk. If they aren't talkin' about methey will be about somebody else. "

Judah, to whom this remark was made, snorted. 

"Humph!" he growled. "They _be_ talkin' about somebody else. Don't youmake no mistake about that, Cap'n Sears. "

"That so, Judah? Who's the other lucky man?"

"Me. Jumpin', creepin'---- Why, some of them womenfolks seem to cal'lateI lammed you over the head with a marlinspike and then towed you up hereby main strength; seems if they did, by Henry! And some of the men ain'ta whole lot better. Makes me madder'n a sore nose. I was down to thestore--down to 'Liphalet's--and there was a crew of ha'f a dozen thereand they all wanted to know how you was gittin' along. 

"'Well, he ain't dead yit, ' says I. 'He was lively enough when I lefthim. I ain't come to buy no spade to bury him with. '

"You'd think that would satisfy 'em, wouldn't ye? Well, it didn't! Cap'nNoah Baker was there and he wanted to know this, and that little runt ofa Thad Black he wanted to know that--and kept on wantin'. And thatbrother-in-law of yours, Cap'n Sears, that Joel Macomber, I declare toman if he wan't the wust of all. You'd think _he_ ought to keep quietabout your doin's, wouldn't ye, now? But he didn't. 'Don't ask me, boys, ' he says. 'I don't know why Sears quit my house and went toJudah's. We manage to bear up without him somehow, ' says he, winkin' tothe gang, 'but if you ask me his _reasons_ for goin' _I_ can't tell ye. I presume likely Judah can, though, ' he says. 'Well, I can see _one_reason plain enough, ' says I, lookin' right at him. "

Kendrick burst out laughing. "Did he get the idea, Judah?" he inquired. 

"Him? Nary a bit. Wanted me to tell him what the reason was. Limpin', creepin' prophets! What did a woman like Sary ever marry him for, anyway, Cap'n? Not that it's any of my business, you understand. "

"I understand. Well, it wasn't any of mine either, Judah. "

"No, I presume likely not. But that George Kent, he's a nice youngfeller, ain't he, Cap'n?"

"Seems to be, " replied Kendrick. 

"Um--hm. Come up to me, after the gang had quit havin' their good time, and shook hands nice and chummy and wanted to know how you was. 'Tellthe cap'n I'm goin' to come in and see him some day, ' he says, 'if youand he want callers. ' 'Good land, yes, ' says I, 'course we do. Don'tstop to call, come right along in. ' He's a nice boy that young Kent. .. . But--but some of these days I'm goin' to _hit_ that Thad Black--hit himwith somethin' soft like--like an anvil. If that critter fell overboardI wouldn't heave him no life-preserver. No, sir, by Henry, I'd heave himthe sheet anchor. The longer he hung on to that the better 'twould suit_me_. "

To his sister only did Sears give his reasons for leaving her home. Withher he was perfectly frank. 

"You know why I'm doin' this, Sarah, " he said. "Now don't you--honest?"

Mrs. Macomber hesitated. "Why, Sears, " she faltered reluctantly, "I--Isuppose I can guess why you _think_ you're doin' it. But that doesn'tmake it right for you to do it, really. "

"Oh, yes, it does. Be sensible, Sarah. Here are you with six children tosupport and work for, not to mention one boarder and--a husband. Thehouse is crowded, aloft and alow. There isn't a bit of room for me. "

"Now, Sears, how can you talk so? You've _had_ room here, haven't you?"

"Yes, I've had it, plenty of it. But how much room have the rest of youhad?"

"Why--why, we've had enough. Nobody's complained that I know of. "

"Good reason why. You wouldn't let 'em, Sarah. And of course you neverwould complain yourself. But that is only part of it. The real thing isthat I will not live on you. "

"But you pay board. "

"Stuff and nonsense! How much do I pay in comparison with what it coststo keep me?"

"You pay me all you can afford, I'm sure; and I rather guess, from whatyou said about your money affairs the other day, that you pay me morethan you ought to afford. And I don't believe you're goin' to pay thatJudah Cahoon any high board for livin' in that old rats' nest of his. Ifyou are I shall begin to believe you've gone crazy. "

Her brother laughed. "I don't mind payin' Judah little or nothin', Sarah, " he declared. "What I get will be worth it, probably, and besideshe's a strong, healthy man. Then, too--well, I shouldn't say it to anyone but you, but there is a little obligation on his side and that keepsme from feelin' like too much of a barnacle. .. . But there, what is theuse of our threshin' this all over again? As I said in the beginnin', Sarah, you know why I'm doin' it perfectly well. "

Mrs. Macomber sighed. 

"I suppose I do, " she admitted. "It's because you are Sears Kendrick andas independent and--and proud as--as your own self. "

So the move was made and Captain Sears Kendrick's sea chest and itsowner moved into Judah Cahoon's spare stateroom at the General Minot'splace. And Bayport talked and talked more and more and then less andless until at the end of the captain's first week in his new quartersthe move had become old news and people ceased to be interested in it, astate of affairs which pleased Mr. Cahoon immensely. 

"There, by Henry!" he declared, on his return from what he called a"cruise down the road along. " "I honestly do believe you and me has gotso we can bat our weather eye without all hands and the ship's cattryin' to see us do it. I met no less than seven folks while I was downalong just now and only two of 'em hailed to ask how you liked bein'aboard here, Cap'n Sears. Yes, sir, by creepin', only two of 'em; therest never said a word. What do you think of that? Some considerablechange, I call it. "

So being forgotten by the majority of Bayporters--which was what hedesired to be--the captain settled down to live, or exist, and to wait. Just what he was waiting for he would have found hard to tell. Of coursehe told his sister when she came to see him, which was at least onceevery other day, that he was waiting for his legs to get whole andstrong again, and then he should, of course, go to sea. He told DoctorSheldon much the same thing, and the doctor said, "Why, of course, Cap'nKendrick. We'll have you on your own quarter deck again one of thesedays. " He said it with heartiness and apparent sincerity, but Sears wasskeptical. After the doctor's visits he was likely to be blue anddejected for a time, and Judah noticed this fact but attributed it toquite a different cause. 

"It's high time that doctor swab quit comin' here to see you, " declaredJudah. "Runnin' in here and lettin' go anchor and settin' round andsayin', 'Well, how goes it to-day?' and 'Nice spell of weather we'rehavin', ' and the like of that, and then goin' home and chalkin' upanother dollar on the bill. No sense to it, I say. No wonder you lookglum, Cap'n Sears. Makes _me_ glum, and 'tain't _my_ money that's bein'talked out of me, nuther. Hear what he said just now? 'I must go, ' hesays. 'And what did you say? Why, you said, 'Don't hurry, Doctor. Whatdo you want to go for?' All I could do to keep from bustin' out in alaugh. _I_ know what you was sayin' to yourself, you see. 'Stead ofsayin', 'What do you want to go for?' you was thinkin', 'What in blueblazes do you want to _come_ for?' Haw, haw! That was it, wan't it, Cap'n?"

"Why, no, Judah. I'm always glad to see the doctor. "

"Ye--es, you be!" with sarcasm. "Glad to see his back. Well, no use, Cap'n, I've got to think up some notion to keep him from comin' here. How would it do to run up a signal 'Small-pox aboard, ' or somethin' likethat? Think that would keep him off?. .. No, he's a doctor, ain't he? Allhe'd read out of that set of flags would be, 'More dollars. Come on in. 'Haw, haw! Well, I got to think up some way. "

Judah's chatter kept his lodger from being too lonely. Mr. Cahoon talkedabout everybody and everything, and when he was not talking he wassinging. He sang when he turned out in the morning to get breakfast, hesang when he turned in at bedtime. He sang while working in the gardenrepairing the damages done by the Fair Harbor hens. His repertoire wasextensive, embracing not only every conceivable variety of chantey andsea song, but also an assortment of romantic ballads, running from "TheBlue Juniata, " in which:

 "Wild rowed an Indian girl, Bright Al-fa-ra-ta, "

to the ancient ditty of twenty-odd verses describing how

 "There was a rich merchant in London did dwell, He had for his daughter a very fine gel, Her name it was Dinah, just sixteen years old, With a very large fortune in silver and gold. 

 "Singing Too-ral-i-ooral-i-ooral-i-ay, Singing Too-ral-i-ooral-i-ooral-i-ay, "

and continuing to sing "Too-ral-i-ooral-i-ooral-i-ay" four times aftereach of the twenty-odd verses to the tragical finish of Dinah and theballad. 

As some men take to drink upon almost any or no excuse, so Judah Cahoontook to song. And if the effect upon him was not as unsteadying as anover indulgence in alcohol, that upon his hearers was at times upsettingand disastrous. For example, upon the occasion when Captain Sears againencountered his acquaintances of the Fair Harbor summer-house, Mr. Cahoon's singing completely wrecked what might possibly have been ameeting tending to raise the captain in the estimation of those ladies. 

Sears happened to be taking what he liked to call his exercise. Judahcalled it "pacin' decks. " He was hobbling back and forth along the pathleading to the gate opening upon the Fair Harbor grounds. His landlordwas at work in the garden. The captain had limped as far as the gate andwas about to turn and limp back again when, behold, along the pathbeyond that gate appeared two feminine figures strolling with what mightbe called careful carelessness, looking up, down and on every sideexcept that upon which stood Captain Sears Kendrick. And the captainrecognized the pair, the one tall, slim, slender--unusually slim andremarkably slender--the other short and plump--very decidedly plump--asthe ladies with whom he had held brief but spirited discourse thefortnight before, the ladies who had peered forth at him from thevine-draped window of the Eyrie--in short, for Miss Elvira Snowden andMrs. Aurora Chase. 

The pair came scrolling along the path. They were almost at the gatewhen Miss Snowden looked up--she would have said she happened to lookup--and saw the captain standing there. She was embarrassed andsurprised--any one might have noticed the surprise and embarrassment. She started, gasped and uttered a little exclamation. Mrs. Chase, takingher affliction into account, could not possibly have heard theexclamation, but no doubt there was a telepathic quality in it, forshe, too, started, looked up and was surprised and embarrassed. 

"Why--why, oh, dear!" faltered Miss Snowden. 

"Why! My soul and body!" exclaimed Mrs. Chase. 

Captain Sears raised his hat. "Good mornin', " he said politely. 

The ladies looked at each other. Then Miss Elvira, evidently the bornleader, inclined her head ever so little and said, "Good morning. " Mrs. Aurora looked up at her in order to see what she said. 

Captain Sears tried again. 

"It's a nice day for a walk, " he observed. 

Miss Elvira nodded and agreed, distantly--yet not too distant. 

"I understand, " said the captain, "that I gave you ladies a little bitof a scare the other day. Understand you thought I was a tramp. I'm realsorry. Of course I know I hadn't any business over on your premises, but, as a matter of fact, I didn't exactly realize where I was. It wasthe first cruise I'd made in these latitudes, as you might say, and Ididn't think about keepin' on my own side of the channel buoys. I begyour pardon. I'll hope you'll excuse me. "

Miss Snowden nodded elegantly and murmured that she understood. 

"You are our new neighbor, I believe, " she said. 

"Why, yes'm, I suppose I am. "

"Cap'n Kendrick, isn't it?"

"Yes. "

"I hope, Cap'n Kendrick, that you won't think there wasany--ah--anything personal in our mistaking you for a tramp the otherday. Of course there wasn't. Oh, dear, no!"

The captain hesitated. He was wondering just what answer he was supposedto make to this speech. Did the lady wish him to infer that it was theFair Harbor custom to consider all male strangers tramps until they wereproven innocent? Or--but Mrs. Chase saved him the trouble of reply. 

"Elviry, " she demanded, "what are you and him whisperin' about? Whydon't you talk so's a body can hear you? He's Cap'n Kendrick, ain't he?Have you told him who we be, same as you said you was goin' to?"

Miss Snowden, after looking at the rotund Aurora as if she would like tobite her, smiled instead and began a rather tangled explanation to theeffect that she and Mrs. Chase had felt that perhaps they had beena--ah--they might have seemed "kind of hasty--you know, Cap'n Kendrick, in what--in speaking as we did that time, and so--and so I told her ifwe ever _did_ meet you--if we ever _should_, you know---- Butwe haven't really met yet, have we? Shall we introduce ourselves? Idon't see why not; neighbors, you know. Cap'n Kendrick, this is Mrs. Aurora Chase, widow of the late Cap'n Ichabod Chase. No doubt, you knewCap'n Chase in the old days, Cap'n Kendrick. "

And then Aurora, who had been listening with all her ears, and hearingwith perhaps a third of them, broke in to say that her husband was not acaptain. "He was second mate when he died, " she explained. "Aboard thebark _Charles Francis_ he was, bound for New Bedford from the WestIndies with a load of guano. "

Miss Snowden, favoring the veracious Aurora with another look, hastilyintroduced herself and began to speak of the beauties of the day, of thesurroundings, and particularly of the select and refined joys of life atthe Fair Harbor. 

"We have our little circle there, " she said. "We live our lives, quiet, retired, away from the world----"

Mrs. Chase broke in once more to ask what she was talking about. Whenthe substance of the Snowden rhapsody was given her, she nodded--as wellas her several chins would permit her to nod--and announced that sheagreed. 

"We like livin' at the home first-rate, " she declared. Elvira flushed. 

"It is _not_ a home, " she said, sharply. "It is a select retreat, thatis all. It is not a home in _any_ sense of the word. Every one knowsthat it is not. Aurora, I wish to goodness you---- But of course Cap'nKendrick doesn't want to hear about us all the time. He is interested inhis own new quarters. Do you like it here, Cap'n Kendrick?I--ah--understand you are, so to speak, a guest of Mr. Cahoon's. Heis--ah--a relation of yours?"

Sears explained the acquaintanceship between Judah and himself. MissSnowden nodded comprehension. 

"That explains it, " she said. "I thought he could hardly be a relationof _yours_, Cap'n Kendrick. He is--he is a little bit queer, isn't he? Imean eccentric, you know. Of course I've never met him, and I'm surehe's real good-hearted, but----"

She paused, leaving the rest of the sentence to be inferred. CaptainSear's answer was prompt and crisp. 

"Judah Cahoon is one of the best fellows that ever lived, " he said. 

"Yes, I know. I am sure he is. I didn't mean that. I meant is he--ishe----"

And then Judah himself, at work in the garden behind the screen ofbushes, too busy to hear or even be aware of the conversation at thegate, chose this untoward moment to burst into song, to sing at the topof his voice, and the top of Judah's voice was an elevation from whichsound traveled far. He sang:

 "Oh, Sally Brown was a bright mulatter, Way, oh, roll and go! She drinks rum and chews terbacker, Spend my money on Sally Brown. Whee--_yip_!"

Miss Elvira's thin figure stiffened to an exclamation point ofdisapproval. Captain Kendrick turned uneasily in the direction of thesinger. Mrs. Chase, aware that something was going on and not wishing tomiss it, cupped her ear with her hand. And Judah began the secondverse. 

 "Oh, Sally Brown, I'll surely miss you, Way, oh, roll and go! How I'd love to hug and kiss you! Spend my money on Sally Brown. Whee--_yip_!"

"Judah!" roared the captain, who was suffering acute apprehension. "Judah!"

"Oh, Sally Brown----"

"_Judah!"_

"Eh? What is it, Cap'n Sears?"

"Shut up. "

"Eh! Shut up what? What's open?"

"Stop that noise. "

"What noise?"

"That noise of yours. That singin'. "

"Eh? Oh, all right, sir. Aye, aye, Cap'n, just as you say. "

Captain Sears, relieved, turned again to his visitors. But the visitorswere rapidly retreating along the path, the lines of Miss Elvira's backindicating disgust and outraged gentility. Mrs. Chase, however, lookedback. Obviously she still did not know what it was all about. 

Sears, although he chuckled a good deal over the affair, was a trifleannoyed, nevertheless. It was a good joke, of course, and he certainlycared little for the approval or disapproval of Miss Elvira Snowden. Butwhen he considered what the prim spinster's version of the happening waslikely to be and the reputation her story was sure to confer, inside theFair Harbor fences at least, upon him and his household companion, hewas tempted to wish that that companion's musical talent had been hiddenunder a napkin, or, better still, a feather bed. He--Kendrick--was tolive, for a time indefinite, next door to the Fair Harborites, and it isalways pleasant to be on good terms with one's neighbors. True, thoseneighbors might be, the majority of them, what Mr. Cahoon calledthem--which was whatever term of approbrium he happened to think of atthe moment, "pack of old hens" being the mildest--but the captain knewthat one, at least, was not an "old hen. " "That Berry girl, " which washis way of thinking of her, was attractive and kind and a lady. They hadmet but once, it is true, but she had made a most favorable impressionupon him. He had caught glimpses of her on two occasions, in the FairHarbor grounds, and once she had waved a greeting. She was a nice girl, he was sure of it. If she thought at all of the cripple next door hewould like her to think of him in a kindly way, as a decent sort ofhulk, so to speak. It was provoking to feel that she would next hear ofhim as a dissipated ruffian, friend and defender of another ruffian whohowled ribald songs in the presence--or at least in the hearing--ofladies. 

He questioned Judah concerning the Fair Harbor, its founder and thedwellers within its gates. Judah told him what he knew of the story, which was very little more than the captain already knew, his knowledgegained from his sister's letters. Captain Sylvanus Seymour had had butone child, his daughter Lobelia. At his death she, of course, inheritedall his property. According to Bayport gossip, as reported by Mr. Cahoon, the old man had died worth anywhere from one half a million tothree or five millions. "Richer'n dock mud, I cal'late he was, " declaredJudah. "Made a lot of money out of his Boston shippin' business and alot more out of stocks and city real estate and one thing or 'nother. "For years after Captain Sylvanus died Lobelia lived alone in the bighouse. Then she had married. Judah could tell little about the man shemarried. 

"He was a music teacher that come to town here one winter, that's aboutall I can swear to, " said Judah. "Down here for his health, so he said, and taught singin' school while he was gittin' healthy. His last namewas Phillips, which is all right, but he had the craziest fust name ever_I_ heard. Egbert 'twas. Hoppin', creepin' Henry! Did you ever _hear_such a name? _Egbert!_ Jumpin' prophets! Boys round town, they tell me, used to call him 'Eg' behind his back. Some of 'em, them that didn'tlike him, called him 'Soft biled. ' Haw, haw! See what they meant, don'tyou, Cap'n Sears? Egbert, you know, that's 'Eg' for short, and then'Soft biled' meanin' a soft biled egg. .. . Hey? Yes, I cal'lated you'dsee it, you're pretty sharp at a joke, Cap'n, but there _has_ been themI've told that to that never. .. . Hey? Aye, aye, sir, I was just goin' totell the rest of it. "

According to Judah's report, which was a second or third hand report ofcourse, Egbert Phillips had not been too popular among the males inBayport. But with the females--ah, there it was different. 

"He was one of them kind, they tell me, " said Judah. "One of themsmooth, slick, buttery kind of fellers that draws womenfolks same asmolasses draws flies. Hailed from Philadelphy he did. I used to know agood many Philadelphy folks myself once. Why, one time----"

The captain broke in to head off the Philadelphia reminiscence. Broughtback to Bayport and Egbert and Lobelia, Judah went on to tell what morehe knew of the Fair Harbor beginnings. Sears gathered that after themarriage Egbert who, it seemed, was not in love with the Cape as a placeof residence, would have liked his wife to sell the old house and moveaway. But there was a clause in the will of Captain Sylvanus whichprevented this. Under that will the property could not be sold while hisdaughter lived. It was then that Lobelia was seized with her great idea. She, a mariner's daughter, had--until the Providential appearance of thepeerless Egbert--faced a lonely old age. But she had at least acomfortable home. There were so many women--sea-captains' widows andsisters--who faced their lonely future without a home. Why not turn theSeymour property into a home for them--a limited number of them?

"So she done it, " said Judah. "And that's how the Fair Harbor got offthe ways. "

"But you called it a home, " objected Captain Sears. "The other day thatSnowden woman, the thin one, gave the other, the stout one--what's hername?--Northern lights--Aurora, that's it--she gave Aurora fits forspeakin' of the place as a home. She declared it wasn't a home. "

Mr. Caboon chuckled. "Did, eh?" he observed. "Well, you might call amackerel gull a canary bird, I presume likely, but 'twouldn't make thething sing no better. That Elviry critter likes to make believe she'sthe Queen of Sheby. _She_ wouldn't live in no home--no sir-ee! 'Cordin'to her the Fair Harbor ain't a home because they only take six or eightpassengers, or visitors, or patients, or jailbirds--whatever you mightto call 'em, and it costs four hundred dollars to pay your way in and ahundred a year to keep you there. So 'tain't a home, you see. It's a--agenteel henhouse, I'd say. That Elviry Snowden she----"

Then the captain asked the question to which he had been leading sincethe beginning. 

"That Berry girl's mother runs the place, doesn't she?" he asked. 

Judah snorted. "Yeah, " he drawled, "she runs it about the way theskipper's poll parrot runs the vessel. The poll parrot talks a barrel aminute and the skipper goes right along navigatin'. That's about the way'tis over yonder, " with a jerk of the head in the general direction ofthe Fair Harbor. 

His lodger was a trifle surprised. 

"Why, I understood Mrs. Berry--Cap'n Isaac Berry's widow--was managerthere, " he said. 

"Um-hm. So she is, the poll parrot manager. But it's that girl of hers, that 'Lizabeth Berry, that really handles the ropes. There's a capablelittle craft, if you want to know, " declared Judah, with emphasis. 

He whittled a pipe full of tobacco from the mutilated remnant of a plug, and continued to expatiate on the capabilities of Miss Berry. Accordingto him whatever was as it should be within the Fair Harbor boundarieswas due to the young woman's efforts, not to those of her mother. 

"It's kind of queer, ain't it, Cap'n Sears, " he observed, "how thingsaverage up sometimes. Seems if whoever 'tis works out the course upaloft sort of fixed 'em that way. "

"What's that got to do with the Berrys?"

"Cause it worked that way with them. _You_ knew Cap'n Ike Berry, Cap'nSears. Sharp, shrewd, able and all that, but rough and hard as thebroadside of a white-oak plank. Well, he married a woman from down inthe Carolinas somewhere. Her folks was well-off and she was brought upin cotton wool, as you might say. They wouldn't have nothin' to do withher after she married Cap'n Ike. He fell in love with her and carriedher off by main strength, as you might say. She'd been treated like aplaything afore he got her and he treated her that way till he died. Sheis soft-spoken, and kind of good-lookin', and polite and all that--butabout as much practical use for bossin' a place like the Fair Harbor asa--well as a paper umbrella would be in a no'theaster. But 'Lizabethnow, she's different. She's got her mother's good looks and nice mannersand--and kind of genteelness, you understand, and with 'em she's got herdad's sense and capableness. She's all right, that girl. Don't you thinkso, Cap'n Sears?"

The captain nodded. 

"I never met her but that once, Judah, " he replied. "She was all rightthen, surely. "

"I bet you! She's all right most of the time, I guess. .. . That youngGeorge Kent, he thinks so, they tell me. "

"Oh . .. Does he?"

"Um-hm! He's cruisin' up to the Fair Harbor 'bout every once or twice aweek, 'cordin' to tell. If it ain't to see 'Lizabeth I don't know what'tis. It might be Queen Elviry he's after, but I have my doubts. .. . Oh, say, Cap'n, speakin' of the Harbor reminds me of Judge Knowles. Youain't been in to see him yet, same as he wanted you to. "

"That's so, Judah, I haven't. I must pretty soon, I suppose. I can'tthink what the old judge wants to see me for. But why did talkin' of theFair Harbor and the rest of it make you think of Judge Knowles?"

"Hey? Oh, 'cause the judge is kind of commodore of the fleet there, looks after the money matters for 'em, I understand. He's Lobelia'slawyer, same as he was old Cap'n Sylvanus's afore he died. .. . I declareI can't guess what he wants to see you for, Cap'n Sears. Do yous'pose----"

Judah proceeded to suppose several things, each supposition morefar-fetched and improbable than its predecessor. Sears paid littleattention to them. He again expressed his intention of calling upon thejudge before long and changed the subject. 

The next day it rained and he did not go and the following day he didnot feel like going. On the day after that, however, furtherprocrastination was rendered impossible. Mrs. Tidditt, the judge'shousekeeper, visited the General Minot place with another message fromher employer. Emmeline was gray-haired, brisk and, as Judah expressedit, "straight up and down, " both in figure and manner of speaking. 

"Good mornin', Cap'n Kendrick, " she said. "Judge Knowles wants to knowif 'twill be convenient for you to come over and see him this afternoon?Says if 'tis he'll send Mike and the hoss-'n'-buggy around for you attwo o'clock. "

The captain's guilty conscience made him a trifle embarrassed. "Why--why, yes, certainly, " he stammered. "I---- Well, I'm ashamed ofmyself for not goin' over there sooner. Beg Judge Knowles's pardon forme, will you, and tell him I'll be on hand at two sharp. And tell himnot to bother to send the horse and team. I'll get there all right. "

Mrs. Tidditt sniffed. "I'll tell him the first part, " she said. "AndMike'll have the hoss-'n'-buggy here at ten minutes of. Judah Cahoon, why in the land of Canaan don't you scrub up that back piazza floor oncein a while? It's dirty as a fish shanty. "

Judah's back fin rose. "Say, who's keepin' house aboard here, anyway?"he demanded. Mrs. Tidditt sniffed again. "Nobody, by the looks, " shesaid, and departed in triumph. 

At two the Knowles horse and buggy drove into the yard. It was pilotedby Mike Callahan, an ancient, much bewhiskered Irishman who had beenemployed by the judge almost as long as had Mrs. Tidditt. He and Judahassisted Sears into the vehicle and the captain started upon his cruise, which was a very short one, the Knowles establishment being but a fewhundred yards from the Minot place. On the way he inquired concerningthe judge's health. Mike shook his head. 

"Bad, " he grunted. "It's close _to_, the ould judge is. "

"Oh, I'm sorry. "

"Sure ye are. So are we all. He is a fine man, none better--barrin' he'sa grand ould curmudgeon. Here ye are, Cap'n. Git up till I lift yedown. "

Judge Knowles's house--Sears Kendrick had never been in it before--was abig square mansion built in the '50's. There was the usual front doorleading to a dark front hall from which, to right and left respectively, opened parlor and sitting rooms. Emmeline ushered the visitor into thelatter apartment. It was high studded, furnished in black walnut andhaircloth, a pair of tall walnut cases filled with books against onewall, on the opposite wall a libellous oil portrait of the judge's wife, who died twenty years before, and a pair of steel engravings depicting"Sperm Whale Fishing in the Arctic"; No. 1, portraying "The Chase, " No. 2, "the Capture. " Beneath these stood a marble-topped table upon whichwere neatly piled four gigantic volumes, bound copies of Harper'sWeekly, 1861 to '65, the Civil War period. 

At the end of the room, where two French windows opened--that is, couldhave opened, they never were--upon the narrow, iron-railed veranda, satJudge Marcus Aurelious Knowles, in an old-fashioned walnut armchair, hisfeet upon a walnut and haircloth footstool--Bayport folk in those dayscalled such stools "crickets"--a knitted Afghan thrown over his legs anda pillow beneath his head. And in that dark, shadowy room, its curtainsdrawn rather low, so white was the judge's hair and his face that, toSears Kendrick, just in from the light out of doors, it was at firsthard to distinguish where the pillow left off and the head began. 

But the head on the pillow stirred and the judge spoke. 

"Ah--good afternoon, Kendrick, " he said. "Glad to see you. .. . Humph. Can't see much of you, can I? Here, Emmeline, put those shades up, willyou?"

The housekeeper moved toward the windows, but she protested as shemoved. 

"Now, Judge, " she said, "I don't believe you want them winder curtainsstrung way up, do you? I hauled 'em down purpose so's the sun wouldn'tget in your eyes. "

"Um--yes. Well, you haul 'em up again. And don't you haul 'em down tillI'm dead. You'll do it then, I know, and I don't want to attend myfuneral ahead of time. "

Mrs. Tidditt gasped. 

"Oh, Judge Knowles, how _can_ you talk so!" she wailed. 

"I intend to talk as I choose--while I can talk at all. .. . There, there, woman, that's enough. Put the blasted things up. .. . Umph! That's better. Sit down, Cap'n, sit down. I want to look at you. "

The captain took one of the walnut and haircloth chairs. The judgelooked at him and he looked at the judge. He remembered the latter as atall, broad-shouldered figure, with a ruddy face, black hair slightlysprinkled with gray, and a nose and eye like an eagle's. The man in thearmchair was thin and shrunken, the face was deeply lined, and face andhands and hair were snow white. The nose was, however, more eagle-likethan ever, and the eyes beneath the rough white brows had the old flash. 

Sears waited an instant for him to speak, but he did not. So the captaindid. 

"I beg your pardon, Judge, " he began, "for not comin' over here sooner. I got your message----"

Knowles interrupted. "Oh, you got it, did you?" he said. "Humph! I toldEmmeline to get word to you and she said---- Oh, well, never mind that. Can't waste time. I haven't got any too much of it, or strength either. Sorry to hear about your accident, Cap'n. Doctor Sheldon says you had aclose call of it. How are the legs?"

"Oh, I can navigate with 'em after a fashion, but not far. How are you, Judge? Gettin' better fast, I hope. "

The head on the pillow gave an impatient jerk. "Your hope is lost then. Don't waste time talking about me. I'm going to die and I know it--andbefore long. .. . There, there, " as his caller uttered a protest, "don'tbother to pretend, Kendrick. We aren't children, either of us, althoughyou're a good many years younger than I am; but we're both too old tomake-believe. I'm almost through. Well, it's all right. I've lived pastmy three score and ten and I'm alone in the world and ought not to mindleaving it, I suppose. I don't much. It's an interesting place and thereare two or three matters I should like to straighten up before. .. . Humph! I'm the one's who's wasting the time. How are you? I don't meanhow would you like to be or how do your fool friends and the doctor tellyou you are--but how _are_ you?"

Captain Sears smiled. It had been a long, long time since any one hadtalked to him like this. Not since he relinquished a mate's rating forthat of a master. But he did not resent it; he, too, was sick ofpretending. 

"I'm in bad shape, Judge, " he said. "My legs are better and I can hobblearound on 'em, as you saw when I hobbled in here. But as to whether ornot they will ever be fit for sea again I--well, I doubt it. And Irather guess the doctor doubts it, too. I don't say so to many, haven'tsaid it to any one but you, but it looks to me as if I were on a leeshore. I may get out of the breakers some day--or I may just lay thereand rot and drop to pieces. .. . Well, as you say, what's the use ofwastin' time talkin' about me?"

"I've got a reason for talking about you, Cap'n. So you're not confinedto your bed. And your head is all right, eh?"

Kendrick hesitated. He could not make out what in the world the man wasdriving at. 

"Eh?" repeated the judge. 

"Yes, as right as it ever was, I presume likely. Sometimes I think thatmay not be sayin' much. "

"When a man thinks that way it is a favorable symptom, according to myexperience. From what I've heard and know, Cap'n Kendrick, your headwill do very well. Now there's another question. Have you got all themoney you need?"

The captain leaned back in his chair. He did not answer immediately. From the head upon the pillow came a rasping chuckle. 

"Go on, " observed Judge Knowles, "ask it. "

Kendrick stared at him. "Ask what?" he demanded. 

"The question you had in mind. If I hadn't been a man with one foot inthe grave you would have asked me if I considered the amount of moneyyou had any of my damned business. Isn't that right?"

Sears hesitated. Then he grinned. "Just about, " he said. 

"I thought so. Well, in a way it is my business, because, if you haveall the money you need, fifteen hundred a year for the next two or threeyears won't tempt you any. And I want to tempt you, Cap'n. "

Again the captain was silent for an interval. 

"Fifteen hundred a year?" he repeated, slowly. 

"Yes. "

"For what?"

"For services to be rendered. I've been looking for a man with time onhis hands, who has been used to managing, who can be firm when it'snecessary, has had enough experience of the world to judge people andthings and who won't let a slick tongue get the better of him. And hemust be honest. I think you fill the bill, Cap'n Kendrick. "

The visitor tugged at his beard. 

"Look here, Judge Knowles, " he said crisply, "what are you talkin'about? What's the joke?"

"It isn't a joke. "

"Well, then what is it? You'll have to give me my bearin's, I'm lost inthe fog. Do I understand you to mean that you are offerin' me a berth, ajob where I can earn--no, I won't put it that way, where I will be paidfifteen hundred a year?"

"I am, and, " with another sardonic chuckle, "I rather think you'll earnall you get. Of course fifteen hundred dollars a year isn't a largesalary, it isn't a sea captain's wage and share--not such a captain asyou've been, Kendrick. But, as I see it, you can't go to sea for a yearor two at least. You are planning to stay right here in Bayport. Well, while you are here this thing I am offering you will, " there was anotherchuckle, "keep you moderately busy, and you will be earning something. It may be that fifteen hundred won't be enough to be worth your while. Perhaps I shouldn't venture to offer it if I hadn't heard--hadn'theard----"

Sears interrupted. 

"What you heard was probably true, " he said crisply. "True enough, atany rate. Fifteen hundred a year looks like a lot to me now. But what amI to do to get it, that's the question. I'm a cripple, don't forgetthat. "

"I should remember it if I thought it necessary. You won't handle thisjob with your legs. It is your head I want. Cap'n Kendrick, I want youto take charge--take command, if you had rather we used seafaring lingo, of that establishment next door to where you are living now. I want youto act as--well, we'll call it captain of the Fair Harbor. "

Captain Sears's eyes and mouth opened. His chair creaked as he leanedforward and then slowly leaned back again. 

"You--you--" he gasped, "you want me to--to manage that--that _oldwomen's home_?"

"Yes. "

"_Me?_"

"Yes. .. . Here! where are you going?"

The visitor had risen. 

"Stop!" shouted Judge Knowles. "Where are you going?"

The captain breathed heavily. 

"I'm goin' to send for the doctor, " he declared. "One of us two needshim. "

CHAPTER V

Judge Knowles's answer to his caller's assertion concerning the need ofa physician's services was another chuckle. 

"Sit down, Cap'n, " he ordered. 

Kendrick shook his head. "No, " he began, "I'm----"

"Sit down. "

"Judge, look here: I don't suppose you're serious, but if you are, Itell you----"

"No, I'm going to tell _you_. SIT DOWN. "

This time the invalid's voice was raised to such a pitch that Mrs. Tidditt came hurrying from the kitchen. 

"My soul and body, Judge!" she exclaimed. "What is it? What _is_ thematter?"

Her employer turned upon her. 

"The matter is that that confounded door is open again, " he snapped. 

"Why--why, of course 'tis. I just opened it when I came in. "

"Umph! Yes. Well then, hurry up and shut it when you go out. _Shut_ it!"

Emmeline, going, not only shut but slammed the door. The judge smiledgrimly. 

"Sit down, Kendrick, " he commanded once more, panting. "Sit down, I--I'mout of breath. Confound that woman! She seems to think I'm four yearsold. Ah--ah--whew!"

His exhaustion was so apparent that Sears was alarmed. 

"Don't you think, Judge----" he began, but was interrupted. 

"Sshh!" ordered Knowles. "Wait. .. . Wait. .. . I'll be all right in aminute!"

The captain waited. It took more than a minute, and even then thejudge's voice was husky and his sentences broken, but his determinationwas unshaken. 

"I want you to listen to me, Cap'n Kendrick, " he said. "I know it soundscrazy, this proposal of mine, but it isn't. How much do you know aboutthis Fair Harbor place; its history and so on?"

Captain Sears explained that his sister had written him some factsconcerning it and that recently Judah Cahoon had told him more details. The judge wished to know what Judah had told. When informed he nodded. 

"That's about right, so far as it goes, " he admitted. "Fairly straight, for a Bayport yarn. It doesn't go far enough, though. Here is thesituation:

"Lobelia, when she first conceived the fool notion, " he said, "came tome, of course, to arrange it. I was her father's lawyer for years, andso naturally I was looking out for her affairs. I said all I couldagainst it, but she was determined, and had her way. She, through me, set aside the Sylvanus Seymour house and land to be used as a home forwhat she called 'mariners' women' as long as--well, as long as sheshould continue to want it used for that purpose. She would have beencontented to pay the bills as they came, but, of course, there was nobusiness method in that, so we arranged that she was to hand over to mefifty thousand dollars in bonds, the income from that sum, plus theentrance fees and one hundred dollars yearly paid by each inmate, was torun the place. That is the way it has been run. She christened it theFair Harbor. Heaven knows I had nothing to do with that. 

"For a year or so she lived there herself and had a beautiful timequeening it over the inmates. Then that Phillips chap drifted intoBayport. "

The captain interrupted here. "Oh, then the Fair Harbor was off the waysbefore she married Phillips?" he said. "Judah told me it wasafterwards. "

"He's wrong. No, the thing had been running two years when thatconfounded. .. . Humph! You never met Egbert Phillips, did you, Cap'n?"

"No. "

"You've heard about him?"

"Only what Judah told me the other day. "

"Humph! What did he tell?"

"Why, he--he gave me to understand that this Phillips was a prettysmooth article. "

"Smooth! Why, Kendrick, he is. .. . But there, you'll meet him some dayand no feeble words of mine could do him justice. Besides all my wordsare getting too feeble to waste--even on anything as beautiful as Egbertthe great. .. . And that condemned doctor will be here pretty soon, so wemust get on. .. . Ah. .. . Well, he came here to teach singing, Phillipsdid, and he had all the women in tune before the first lesson was over. They said he was wonderful, and he was--good God, yes! They kept onthinking he was wonderful until he married Lobelia Seymour. "

"Then they changed their minds, eh?"

"Humph! You don't know women, do you, Cap'n? Never mind, you've got timeenough left to learn in. .. . No, they didn't change their minds. Theythought Egbert was as wonderful as ever, but they agreed that Lobeliahad roped him in. _She_ had roped _him_ in! Oh, lord!. .. Well, they weremarried and went to Boston to live. Afterwards they went to Europe. Fiveyears ago they came back here for a week's visit. Cahoon tell you aboutthat?"

"No. "

"Probably he didn't know about it. They did, though, and stayed herewith me, of course. Lobelia settled that, I imagine--one of the timeswhen she settled something herself. And while she was here she and Isettled something else. She added a codicil to her will making the fiftythousand dollars in my possession and the house and Seymour land a gift, absolute, to the Fair Harbor. And she appointed me as sole trustee ofthe fund and financial manager of the home, with authority to appoint myown successor. And her husband didn't know a thing about it. Didn'twhen they went away; I'm sure I don't know whether he does now or not, but he didn't then. No, sir, we settled the Fair Harbor fund andEgbert's hash, so far as it was concerned. Ha, ha! And a blessed goodjob, too, Kendrick. .. . Hand me that glass of water, will you? Thanks. "

He drank a swallow or two of water and lay back upon the pillow. CaptainSears was a little anxious. He suggested that, perhaps, he had better betold the rest another time. 

"I think you had better rest now, Judge, " he counseled. The judgeconsigned the "rest" idea to a place where, according to tradition, there is very little of it. 

"I want you to hear this, " he snapped. "Don't bother me, but listen. .. . Where was I?. .. Oh, yes. .. . Well, Lobelia and her husband went away, toEurope again. They have been there ever since, living in Italy. Egbertfinds the climate there agrees with him, I suppose---- Humph!. .. I havehad letters from Lobelia. The later ones were shorter and notencouraging. She wrote that she wasn't well and the doctors didn't seemto help her much. After two or three of these letters I wrote one, myself--to the American consul at Florence. He is the son of a goodfriend of mine. I explained the situation and asked him to find out justwhat ailed her and what the prospects were. His reply explained things. Poor Lobelia is in my position--except that my age entitles me to bethere and hers doesn't; she has an incurable disease and she is likelyto die at any time. No hope for her. And now, it seems she has found itout. About a month ago I had another letter from her. .. . Humph!. .. Waita minute, Cap'n. Give me that glass again, will you. Sorry to be such acondemned nuisance--particularly to other people. .. . Wait! Hold on! WhenI've finished you can talk. Hear the rest of it first. 

"Lobelia's latest--last, I shouldn't wonder--letter was a sad sort of athing. I'm a tough old fellow, but I declare I'm sorry for that poorwoman. Fool to marry Phillips? Of course she was, but most of us arefools, some time or other. And, if I don't miss my guess, she hasrepented of her foolishness many times and all the time. She wrote meshe knew she was going to die. And she said---- But here is the letter. Read it, that page of it. "

He fumbled among the papers and books on the table beside him, selecteda sheet of paper, covered with closely written lines, and extended it ina shaking hand to his caller. 

"That explains things a little, " he said. "It's illuminating. Read it. "

Captain Sears read. .. . "And so I am _very_ anxious, dear Judge Knowles, whatever else happens, that the Fair Harbor shall always be as it is, ahome for sisters and widows and daughters of men who went down to thesea in ships, as father did. I know he would have liked it. And_please_, after I'm gone, don't let it be sold or given up, or anythinglike that. I am asking this of you, because I know I can trust you. Youhave proved it so many times. And--I never have written you this beforebut it is true--I have so little left except the Fair Harbor and itsendowment. You will wonder where the money has gone. I do not know. Itseems to have slipped away little by little and neither my husband nor Ican account for. .. . "

The page ended there. The captain would have handed it back to Knowles, but the latter asked him to put it on the table. 

"Put it in the envelope and put the envelope in the drawer, will you, Kendrick?" he said. "My housekeeper is a good housekeeper, but what ismine is hers--including correspondence. .. . Well, you see? She can'taccount for the disappearance of the money. I can. When you have a fivethousand dollar income and spend ten thousand you can account for alot. .. . Humph! Well, the fact is that I am expecting to hear ofLobelia's death at any time. She may be dead to-day--or to-morrow--ornext week. And as soon as I hear of it I shall say to myself. .. . Humph!Cap'n, you know how the Old Farmer's Almanac, along in November, prophesies the weather, don't you? 'About this time look out for snow. 'Yes, well, on a date about a month after the day I hear of LobeliaPhillips's death I should write on the calendar: 'About this time lookfor Egbert. ' . .. Humph. .. . Eh? See, don't you, Cap'n Kendrick?"

Kendrick smiled, he couldn't help it. He tugged thoughtfully at hisbeard. 

"Yes, " he admitted, "I guess likely I see. But I don't see where I comein. You can handle Egbert, Judge, or I don't know much about men. "

The judge snorted. "Handle him, " he repeated. "I think I could handlehim--and enjoy the job. The trouble is I shan't have the chance. I won'tbe here. I'll be in the graveyard. "

He spoke of it as casually as he might of Boston or New York. Again hislistener could not help but protest. 

"Why, Judge, " he began, "that's perfectly ridiculous. You----"

The judge interrupted. "Perhaps, " he said, drily. "In fact, I agree withyou. The graveyard is a ridiculous place for anybody to be, but I shallbe there--and soon. But I am not going to let it interfere with my plansconcerning the Fair Harbor. Lobelia Seymour I've known since she was alittle girl, and whether I'm dead or alive, I'm going to have her wishescarried out. That's why I'm telling you these things, Sears Kendrick. Iam counting on you to carry them out. "

The captain leaned back in his chair. 

"Why pick on me?" he asked, drily. 

"Why? Because I've got to pick on somebody and do it while I have thestrength to pick. You and I have never been close friends, Kendrick, butI've watched you and kept track of you for years, in a general sort ofway. Your sister and I have had a long acquaintanceship. There's anotherwoman who made a mistake. .. . Eh?"

Sears nodded. 

"I'm afraid so, " he admitted. "Joel is a good enough fellow, in his way, but----"

"But--that's it. Well, he's got a good wife and she's your sister. Iknow you can handle this Fair Harbor job if you will and if you take iton I shall go to--well, to that graveyard we were talking about, with aneasier mind. Look here--why----"

"Hold on a minute, Judge. Heave to and let me say a word. If therewasn't any other reason why I shouldn't feel like takin' the wheel of anold woman's home there would be this one: You need a business man thereand I'm no business man. "

"How do you know you're not?"

"Because I've just proved it. You heard somethin' of how my voyage inbusiness ashore turned out. I'll tell you the truth about it. "

He did, briefly, giving the facts of his disastrous sojourn inship-chandlery. 

"So that's how good a business man _I_ am, " he said in conclusion. "AndI'm a cripple besides. Much obliged, Judge, but you'll have to shipanother skipper, I'm afraid. "

He was rising but Judge Knowles barked a profane order for him to keephis seat. 

"I know all that, " he snapped. "Knew about it just after it happened. And I know, too, that you paid your share of the debts dollar fordollar. I'll risk you in this job I'm offering you. .. . Yes, and you'rethe only man I will risk--the only one in sight, that is. Come now, don't say no. Think it over. I'll give you a week to think it over in. I'd give you a month, but I might not be here at the end of it. .. . Willyou take the offer under consideration and then come back and haveanother talk with me? Eh? Will you?"

The captain hesitated. He wanted to say no, of course, should say itsooner or later, but he hated to be too abrupt in his refusal. Afterall, the offer, although absurd, was, in a way, a compliment and heliked the old judge. So he hesitated, stammered and then asked anotherquestion. 

"You've got a skipper aboard the Fair Harbor already, haven't you?" heinquired. "Judah told me that Cap'n Ike Berry's widow was runnin' theplace. "

"Humph! That isn't all he told you, is it?"

Kendrick smiled. "Why"--he hesitated, "I--"

"Come, come, come! Of course he told you that Cordelia Berry was anotherone of those mistakes we've been talking about. She is, but her husbandwas one of my best friends and his daughter is another. No mistakethere, Cap'n Kendrick, I tell you. .. . But you've met Elizabeth, Iunderstand, eh?"

He chuckled as he said it. Sears was surprised and a trifle confused. Evidently she had told of their encounter in Judah's garden. 

"Well, yes, " he admitted. "We met. "

"Ha, ha! So I heard. Handled the poultry pretty well, didn't she? Sheought to, she's had experience in handling old hens for some time. "

"I presume likely. Then I don't see why you don't let her keep onhandlin' 'em. What do you want me for?"

"Oh, damnation, man, haven't I told you! I want you because I'm going todie and somebody--some man--must take my place. .. . Look here, Kendrick. I appoint you general manager of the Fair Harbor, take it or leave it. But _if_ you leave it don't do it for a week, and, before you do, promise me you'll go over there some day and look around. Meet Cordeliaand talk to her, meet Elizabeth and talk to her. Meet some ofthe--er--hens and talk to them. But, this is the main thing, lookaround, listen, see for yourself. Then you can come back and, if youaccept, we'll discuss details. Will you do that much?"

Captain Sears looked troubled. "Why, yes, I suppose so, " he said, reluctantly, "to oblige you, Judge. But it's wasted time, I shan'taccept. Of course I thank you for the offer and all that, but I might aswell, seems to me, say no now as next week. "

"No such thing. And you will go there and look around?"

"Why--yes, I guess so. But won't the Berry woman and the rest of 'emthink I'm nosin' in where I don't belong? I should, if I were they, andI'd raise a row about it, too. "

"Nonsense. They can't object to your making a neighborly call, can they?And if they do, let 'em. A healthy row won't do a bit of harm overthere. Give 'em the devil, it's what they need. .. . See here, will yougo?"

"Yes. "

"Good! And, remember, you are appointed to this job this minute if youwant it. Or you may take it at any time during the week; don't bother tospeak to me first. Fifteen hundred a year, live with Cahoon or whoeveryou like, precious little to do except be generally responsible for theFair Harbor--oh, how I hate that syrupy, sentimental name!--financiallyand in a business way. .. . Easy berth, as you sailors would say, eh? Ha, ha!. .. Well, good day, Cap'n. Can you find your way out? If not callthat eternally-lost woman of mine and she'll pilot you. .. . Ah. .. . Yes. .. . And just hand me that water glass once more. .. . Thanks. .. . Ishall hope to hear you've accepted next time I see you. We'll talkdetails and sign papers then, eh?. .. Oh, yes, we will. You won't be foolenough to refuse. Easy berth, you know, Kendrick. And don't forgetEgbert; eh? Ha, ha. .. . Umph--ah, yes. .. . Where's that damnedhousekeeper?"

Mike Callahan asked no questions as he drove his passenger back to theGeneral Minot place--no direct questions, that is--but it was quiteevident that his curiosity concerning the reasons for Captain Kendrick'svisit was intense. 

"Well, the ould judge seen you at last, Cap'n, " he observed. 

"Yes. "

"I expect 'twas a great satisfaction to him, eh?"

"Maybe so. Looks as if it was smurrin' up for rain over to the west'ard, doesn't it?"

Mr. Callahan delivered his passenger at the Minot back door anddeparted, looking grumpy. Then Mr. Cahoon took his turn. 

"Well, Cap'n Sears, " he said, eagerly, "you seen him. "

"Yes, Judah, I saw him. "

"Um-hm. Pretty glad to see you, too, wan't he?"

"I hope so. "

"Creepin' prophets, don't you _know_ so? Ain't he been sendin' word byEmmeline Tidditt that he wanted to see you more'n a million times?"

"Guess not. So far as I know he only wanted to see me once. "

"No, no, no. You know what I mean, Cap'n Sears. .. . Well--er--er--youseen him, anyway?"

"Yes, I saw him. "

"Um-hm . .. So you said. "

"Yes, I thought I did. "

"Oh, you did--yes, you did. .. . Um-hm--er--yes. "

So Judah, too, was obliged to do without authentic informationconcerning Judge Knowles's reason for wishing to meet Sears Kendrick. Hehinted as far as he dared, but experience gained through years of seaacquaintanceship with his former commander prevented his doing more thanhint. The captain would tell just exactly what he wished and no more, Judah knew. He knew also that attempting to learn more than that waslikely to be unpleasant as well as unprofitable. It was true that hisbeloved "Cap'n Sears" was no longer his commander but merely his lodger, nevertheless discipline was discipline. Mr. Cahoon was dying to know whythe judge wished to talk to the captain, but he would have died inreality rather than continue to work the pumps against the latter'sorders, expressed or intimated. Judah was no mutineer. 

CHAPTER VI

Sears put in a disagreeable day or two after his call upon the judge. Hewas dissatisfied with the ending of their interview. He felt that he hadbeen foolishly soft-hearted in promising to call at the Fair Harbor, or, to consider for another hour the preposterous offer of management ofthat institution. He must say no in the end. How much better to havesaid it then and there. Fifteen hundred a year looked like a lot ofmoney to him. It tempted him, that part of the proposition. But it didnot tempt him sufficiently to overcome the absurdities of the remainingpart. How could _he_ manage an old woman's home? And what would peoplesay if he tried?

Nevertheless, he had promised to visit the place and look it over andthe promise must be kept. He dreaded it about as much as he had everdreaded anything, but--he had promised. So on the morning of the thirdday following that of his call upon Judge Knowles he hobbled painfullyand slowly up the front walk of the Fair Harbor to the formidable frontdoor, with its great South Sea shells at each end of the granitestep--relics of Captain Sylvanus's early voyages--and its silver-platedname plate with "SEYMOUR" engraved upon it in Gothic lettering. To onelooking back from the view-point of to-day such a name plate may seem abit superfluous and unnecessary in a village where every one knew notonly where every one else lived, but how they lived and all about them. The fact remains that in Bayport in the '70's there were many nameplates. 

Sears gave the glass knob beside the front door a pull. From theinterior of the house came the resultant "_JINGLE_; _jingle_; jingle, jing, jing. " Then a wait, then the sound of footsteps approaching theother side of the door. Then a momentary glimpse of a reconnoitering eyebehind one of the transparent urns engraved in the ground glass pane. Then a rattle of bolt and latch and the door opened. 

The woman who opened it was rather good looking, but also shelooked--well, if the captain had been ordered to describe her generalappearance instantly, he would have said that she looked "tousled. " Shewas fully dressed, of course, but there was about her a generalappearance of having just gotten out of bed. Her hair, ratherelaborately coiffured, had several loose strands sticking out here andthere. She wore a gold pin--an oval brooch with a lock of hair in it--ather throat, but one end was unfastened. She wore cotton gloves, withholes in them. 

"Good mornin', " said the captain. 

The woman said "Good morning. " There was no "r" in the "morning" so, remembering what he had heard concerning Mrs. Isaac Berry's rearing, Kendrick decided that this must be she. 

"This is Mrs. Berry, isn't it?" he inquired. 

"Yes. " The lady's tone was not too gracious, in fact there was a traceof suspicion in it, as if she was expecting the man on the step toproduce a patent egg-beater or the specimen volume of a set ofencyclopedias. 

"How do you do, Mrs. Berry, " went on the captain. "My name is Kendrick. I'm your neighbor next door, and Judge Knowles asked me to be neighborlyand cruise over and call some day. So I--er--so I've cruised, you see. "

Mrs. Berry's expression changed. She seemed surprised, perhaps a littleannoyed, certainly very much confused. 

"Why--why, yes, Mr. Kendrick, " she stammered. "I'm so glad you did. .. . Iam so glad to see you. .. . Ah--ah---- Won't you come in?"

Captain Sears entered the dark front hall. It smelt like most fronthalls of that day in that town, a combination smell made up ofsandal-wood and Brussels carpet and haircloth and camphor and dampshut-up-ness. 

"Walk right in, do, " urged Mrs. Berry, opening the parlor door. Thecaptain walked right in. The parlor was high-studded and square-pianoedand chromoed and oil-portraited and black-walnutted and marble-toppedand hairclothed. Also it had the fullest and most satisfying assortmentof whatnot curios and alum baskets and whale ivory and shell frames andwax fruit and pampas grass. There was a majestic black stove and windowlambrequins. Which is to say that it was a very fine specimen of a verybest parlor. 

"Do sit down, Mr. Kendrick, " gushed Mrs. Berry, moving about a good dealbut not, apparently, accomplishing very much. There had been a featherduster on the piano when they entered, but it, somehow or other, haddisappeared beneath the piano scarf--partially disappeared, that is, forone end still protruded. The lady's cotton dusting-gloves no longerprotected her hands but now peeped coyly from behind a jig-sawedphotograph frame on the marble mantelpiece. The apron she had worn layon the floor in the shadow of the table cloth. These habiliments ofmenial domesticity slid, one by one, out of sight--or partially so--asshe bustled and chatted. When, after a moment, she raised a window shadeand admitted a square of sunshine to the grand apartment, one wouldscarcely have guessed that there was such drudgery as housework, certainly no one would have suspected the elegant Mrs. Cordelia Berry ofbeing intimately connected with it. 

She swept--in those days the breadth of skirts made all feminineprogress more or less of a sweep--across the room and swished gracefullyinto a chair. When she spoke she raised her eyebrows, at the end of thesentence she lowered them and her lashes. She smiled much, and hers wasstill a pretty smile. She made attractive little gestures with herhands. 

"I am _so_ glad you dropped in, Mr. Kendrick, " she declared. "So veryglad. Of course if we had known when you were coming we might have beena little better prepared. But there, you will excuse us, I know. Elizabeth and I--Elizabeth is my daughter, Mr. Kendrick. .. . But it is_Captain_ Kendrick, isn't it? Of course, I might have known. You lookthe sea--you know what I mean--I can always tell. My dear husband was acaptain. You knew that, of course. And in the old days at my girlhoodhome so many, _many_ captains used to come and go. Our old home--mygirlhood home, I mean--was always open. I met my husband there. .. . Ahme, those days are not these days! What my dear father would have saidif he could have known. .. . But we don't know what is in store for us, dowe?. .. Oh, dear!. .. It's such charming weather, isn't it, CaptainKendrick?"

The captain admitted the weather's charm. He had not heard a great dealof his voluble hostess's chatter. He was there, in a way, on businessand he was wondering how he might, without giving offence, fulfill hispromise to Judge Knowles and see more of the interior of the FairHarbor. Of the matron of that institution he had already seen enough toclassify and appraise her in his mind. 

Mrs. Berry rambled on and on. At last, out of the tumult of words, Captain Sears caught a fragment which seemed to him pertinent andinteresting. 

"Oh!" he broke in. "So you knew I was--er--hopeful of droppin' in sometime or other?"

"Why, yes. Elizabeth knew. Judge Knowles told her you said you hoped to. Of course we were delighted. .. . The poor dear judge! We are _so_ fond ofhim, my daughter and I. He is so--so essentially aristocratic. Oh, ifyou knew what that means to me, raised as I was among the people I was. There are times when I sit here in this dreadful place in utterdespair--utter. .. . Oh--oh, of course, Captain Kendrick, I wouldn't haveyou imagine that Elizabeth and I don't like this house. We _love_ it. And dear 'Belia Seymour is my _closest_ friend. But, you know----"

She paused, momentarily, and the captain seized the opportunity----

"So Judge Knowles told you I was liable to call, did he?" he queried. He was somewhat surprised. He wondered if the Judge had hinted at areason for his visit. 

"Why, yes, " replied Mrs. Berry, "he told Elizabeth. She said---- Oh, here you are, dearie. Captain Kendrick, our next door neighbor, has runin for a little call. Isn't it delightful of him? Captain Kendrick, thisis my daughter, Elizabeth. "

She had entered from the door behind the captain's chair. Now she cameforward as he rose from it. 

"How do you do, Cap'n Kendrick?" she said. "I am very glad to see youagain. Judge Knowles told me you were planning to call. "

She extended her hand and the captain took it. She was smiling, but itseemed to him that the smile was an absent-minded one. In fact--ofcourse it might be entirely his imagination--he had a feeling that shewas troubled about something. 

However, he had no time to surmise or even reply to her greeting. Mrs. Berry had caught a word in that greeting which to her requiredexplanation. 

"Again?" she repeated. "Why, Elizabeth, have you and Captain Kendrickmet before?"

"Yes, Mother, that day when our hens got into Mr. Cahoon's garden. Youremember I told you at the time. "

"I don't remember any such thing. I remember Elvira said that she andAurora met him one afternoon, but I don't remember your saying anythingabout it. "

"I told you. No doubt you have forgotten it. "

"Nonsense! you know I never forget. If there is one thing I can honestlypride myself on it is a good memory. You may have thought you told me, but---- Why, what's that noise?"

The noise was a curious babble or chatter, almost as if the sound-proofdoor--if there was such a thing--of a parrot cage had been suddenlyopened. It came from somewhere at the rear of the house and was, apparently, produced by a number of feminine voices all speaking veryfast and simultaneously. 

Elizabeth turned, glanced through the open door behind her, and then atMrs. Berry. There was no doubt now concerning the troubled expressionupon her face. She was troubled. 

"Mother--" she began, quickly. "Excuse us, Cap'n Kendrick, please--mother, have Elvira and Susan Brackett been talking to you aboutbuying that collection of--of what they call garden statuary at Mrs. Seth Snowden's auction in Harniss?"

And now Mrs. Berry, too, looked troubled. She turned red, stammered andfidgetted. 

"Why--why, Elizabeth, " she said, "I--I don't see why you want to discussthat now. We have a visitor and I'm sure Captain Kendrick isn'tinterested. "

Her daughter did not seem to care whether the visitor was interested ornot. 

"Tell me, mother, please, " she urged. "_Have_ they been talking with youabout their plan to buy that--those things?"

Mrs. Berry's confusion increased. "Why--why, yes, " she admitted. "Elviradid tell me about it, something about it. She said it was beautiful--thefountain and the--the deer and--and how pretty they would look on thelawn and----"

"Mother, you didn't give them the least encouragement, did you? Theysay--Elvira and Mrs. Brackett say you told them you thought it abeautiful idea and that you were in favor of what they call theircommittee going to the sale next Monday and buying those--thosecast-iron dogs and children with the Fair Harbor money? I am sure youdidn't say that, did you, mother?. .. I'm awfully sorry, Cap'n Kendrick, to bring this matter into the middle of your call, but really it is veryimportant and it can't be postponed, because. .. . Tell me, Mother, theywill be here in a moment. You didn't say any such thing, did you?"

Mrs. Berry's fine eyes--they had been called "starlike" twenty yearsbefore, by romantic young gentlemen--filled with tears. She wrung herhands. 

"I--I only said--" she stammered, "I---- Oh, I don't think I saidanything except--except that---- Well, they were so sure they werelovely and a great bargain--and you know Captain Snowden's estate inHarniss was perfectly _charming_. You know it was, Elizabeth!"

"Mother, you didn't tell them they might buy them?"

"Why--why, no, I--I don't think I did. I--I couldn't have because Inever do anything like that without consulting you. .. . Oh, Elizabeth, _please_, don't let us have a scene here, with Captain Kendrick present. What _will_ he think? Oh, dear, dear!"

Her handkerchief was called into requisition. Sears Kendrick rose fromhis chair. Obviously he must go and, just as obviously, he knew that inorder to fulfill his promise to the judge in spirit as well as letter heought to stay. This was just the sort of situation to shed light uponthe inner secrets of the Fair Harbor and its management. .. . Nevertheless, he was not going to stay. His position was much toospylike to suit him. But before he could move there were otherdevelopments. 

While Miss Berry and her mother had been exchanging hurried questionsand answers the parrot-cage babble from the distant places somewhere atthe end of the long entry beyond the door had been continuous. Now itsuddenly grew louder. Plainly the babblers were approaching along thatentry and babbling as they came. 

A moment more and they were in the room, seven of them. In the lead wasthe dignified Miss Elvira herself, an impressive figure of gentility inblack silk and a hair breast pin. Close behind her, of course, was therotund Mrs. Aurora Chase, and equally close--yes even a little inadvance of Aurora, was a solidly built female with gray hair, a squarechin, and a very distinct mustache. The others were in the rear, but asthey came in one of these, a little woman in a plain gingham dress, whowore steel spectacles upon a sharp little nose, left the group and tooka stand a little apart, regarding the company with lifted chin and ageneral air of determination and uncompromising defiance. Later onCaptain Sears was destined to learn that the little woman was Mrs. Esther Tidditt, and the lady with the mustache Mrs. Susanna Brackett. And that the others were respectively Mrs. Hattie Thomas, Miss DesirePeasley, and Mrs. Constance Cahoon. Each of the seven was, of course, either a captain's widow or his sister. 

Just at the moment the captain, naturally, recognized nobody except MissSnowden and Mrs. Chase. Nor did he notice individual peculiaritiesexcept that something, excitement or a sudden jostle or something, hadpushed Aurora's rippling black locks to one side, with the result thatthe part which divided the ripples, instead of descending plumb-linefashion from the crown of the head to a point directly in the center ofthe forehead, now had a diagonal twist and ended over the left eye. Theeffect was rather astonishing, as if the upper section of the lady'shead had slipped its moorings. 

He had scarcely time to notice even this, certainly none in which tospeculate concerning its cause. Miss Snowden, who held a paper in herhand, stepped forward and began to speak, gesticulating with the paperas she did so. She paid absolutely no attention to the masculinevisitor. She was trembling with excitement and it is doubtful if sheeven saw him. 

"Mrs. Berry, " she began, "we are here--we have come here, these ladiesand I--we have come here--we---- Oh, what _is_ it?"

This last was addressed to Mrs. Chase, who was tugging at her skirt. 

"Talk louder, " cautioned Aurora, in a stage whisper. "I can't hear you. "

With an impatient movement Miss Snowden freed her garment and beganagain. 

"Mrs. Berry, " she repeated, "we are here, these ladies and I, to--to aska question and to express our opinion on a very important matter. We areall agreed----"

Here she was again interrupted, this time by Mrs. Esther Tidditt, thelittle woman in the gingham dress. Mrs. Tidditt's tone was brisk andsharp. 

"No, we ain't agreed neither, " she announced, with a snap of her headwhich threatened shipwreck to the steel spectacles. "_I_ think it'severlastin' foolishness. Don't you say _I'm_ agreed to it, ElviraSnowden. "

Elvira drew her thin form erect and glared. "We are practically agreed, "she proclaimed crushingly. "You are the only one who doesn't agree. "

"Humph! And I'm the only one that is practical. Of all the silly----"

"Esther Tidditt, was you appointed to do the talking for this committeeor was I?"

"You was, but that don't stop me from talkin' when I want to. I ain't onthe committee, thank the good lord. I'm my own committee. "

This declaration of independence was received with an outburst ofindignant exclamations, in the midst of which Mrs. Chase could be hearddemanding to be told what was the matter and who said what. ElizabethBerry stilled the hubbub. 

"Hush, hush!" she pleaded. "Don't, Esther, please. You can say your wordlater. I want mother--and Cap'n Kendrick--to hear this, all of it. "

The captain was still standing. He had risen when the "committee"entered the room. Its members, most of them, had been so intent upon thebusiness which had brought them there that they had ignored hispresence. Now, of course, they turned to look at him. There wascuriosity in their look but by no means enthusiastic approval. MissSnowden's nod was decidedly snippy. She looked, sniffed and turned againto Mrs. Berry. 

"We want your mother to hear it, " she declared. "We've come here so sheshall hear it--all of it. If--if _others_--who may not be 'speciallyinterested want to hear they can, I suppose. I don't know why not. .. . _We_ haven't anything to hide. _We_ ain't ashamed--are not, I shouldsay. Are we?" turning to those behind and beside her. 

Mrs. Brackett announced that she certainly should say not, so didseveral others. There was a general murmur of agreement. Every onecontinued to look at the captain. He was embarrassed. 

"I think perhaps I had better be goin', " he said, addressing Miss Berry. "I ought to be gettin' home, anyway. "

But the young lady would not have it. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, earnestly, "I hope you won't go. JudgeKnowles told me you were going to call. I was very glad when I found youhad called now--at this time. And I should like to have you stay. Youcan stay, can't you?"

Sears hesitated. "Why--why, yes, I presume likely I can, " he admitted. 

"And will you--please?"

He looked at her and she at him. Then he nodded. 

"I'll stay, " he said, and sat down in his chair. 

"Thank you, " said Elizabeth. "Now, Elvira. .. . Wait, mother, please. "

Miss Snowden sniffed once more. "Now that that important matter issettled I _suppose_ I may be allowed to go on, " she observed, withsarcasm. "Very good, I will do so in spite of the presence of--of thosenot--ahem--intimately concerned. Mrs. Berry, on behalf of this committeehere, a committee of the whole----"

"No such thing, " this from Mrs. Tidditt. "I'm part of the whole but Iain't part of that committee. Stick to the truth, Elviry--pays better. "

"Hush, Esther, " begged Miss Berry. "Let her go on, please. Go on, Elvira. "

The head of the committee breathed fiercely through her thin nostrils. Then she made another attempt. 

"I address you, Mrs. Cordelia Berry, " declaimed Elvira, "because you aresupposed--I say _supposed_--to be officially the managing director--ordirectress, to speak correct--of this institution. Not, " she added, hastily, "that it is an institution in any sense of the word--like ahome or any such thing. We all know that, I hope and trust. Although, "with a venomous glance in the direction of Mrs. Esther, "there appearto be _some_ that know precious little. I mention no names. "

"You don't need to, " retorted the Tidditt lady promptly. "Never mind, Iknow enough not to vote to buy a lot of second-handed images andcritters just because they belong to one of your relations. I know thatmuch, Elviry Snowden. "

This was a body blow and Elvira visibly winced. For just an instantCaptain Sears thought she was contemplating physical assault upon herenemy. But she recovered and, white and scornful, proceeded. 

"I shan't deign to answer such low--er--insinuations, " she declared, hervoice shaking. "I scorn them and her that makes them. I scornthem--both. _BOTH!_"

This last "Both" was fired like a shot from a "Big Bertha. " It shouldhave annihilated the irreverent little female in the gingham gown. Itdid not, however; she merely laughed. The effect of the blast was stillfurther impaired by Mrs. Chase, who although listening with all herears, such as they were, had evidently heard neither well nor wisely. 

"That's right, Elviry, " proclaimed Aurora, "that's just what I say. Why, the lion alone is worth the money. "

Mrs. Brackett touched the Snowden arm. "Never mind, Elvira, " she said. "Don't pay any attention. Go right ahead and read the resolutions. "

Elvira drew a long breath, two long breaths. "Thank you, Susanna, " shesaid, "I shall. I'm going to. Mrs. Berry, " she added, turning to thatlady, who was quite as much agitated as any one present and wasclutching her chair arm with one hand and her daughter's arm with theother. "Mrs. Berry, " repeated Miss Snowden, "this resolution drawn upand signed by the committee of the whole here present--signed with butone exception, I should say, one _trifling_ exception--" this with aglare at Mrs. Tidditt--"is, as I said, addressed to you because you aresupposed--" a glare at Elizabeth this time--"to be in charge of the FairHarbor and what goes on and is done within its--er--porticos. Ahem! Iwill now read as follows. "

And she proceeded to read, using both elocution and gestures. Theresolutions made a rather formidable document. They were addressed to"Mrs. Cordelia Imogene Berry, widow of the late Captain Isaac StephensBerry, in charge of the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women at Bayport, Massachusetts, United States of America. Madam: Whereas----"

There were many "Whereases. " Captain Kendrick, listening intently, foundthe path of his understanding clogged by them and tangled by MissElvira's flowers of rhetoric. He gathered, nevertheless, that the"little group of ladies resident at the Fair Harbor, having been rearedamid surroundings of culture, art and refinement" were, naturally, desirous of improving their present surroundings. Also that a "trulyremarkable opportunity" had come in their way by which the saidsurroundings might be improved and beautified by the expenditure of anominal sum, seventy-five dollars, no more. With this seventy-fivedollars might be bought "the entire collection of lawn statuary and thefountain which adorned the grounds of the estate of the late lamenteddeceased Captain Seth Snowden at Harniss and now the property of hiswidow, namely to wit, Mrs. Hannah Snowden. "

"And I'll say this, " put in Elvira, before reading further, "althoughhints and insinuations have been cast at me in the hearing of thosepresent to-day about my being a relation--relative, that is--of CaptainSeth, and he was my uncle on my father's side, nevertheless it's justbecause I am a relation--relative--that we are able to buy all thoseelegant things for as cheap a price as seventy-five dollars when theycost at least five hundred and. .. . But there! I will proceed. 

"'The said statuary, etcetera, consisting of the following, that is tosay:

"'No. 1. Item . .. 1 Lawn Fountain. Hand painted iron. Representing twochildren beneath umbrella. '"

"And it's the cutest thing, " put in the hitherto silent Desire Peasley, with enthusiastic suddenness. "There's them two young ones standin'natural as life under that umbrella--just same as anybody _would_ standunder an umbrella if 'twas rainin' like fury--and the water squirtsright down over top of 'em and drips off the ribs--off the ribs of theumbrella, I mean--and there they stand and--and---- _Well_, when I see_that_ I says, 'My glory!' I says, 'what'll they contrive next?' That'swhat I said. All hands heard me. .. . What's that you're mutterin', EstherTidditt?"

"I wasn't mutterin', 'special. I just said I bet they heard you if theywas anywheres 'round. "

"Is that so? Do tell! Well, I'll have you to understand----"

Elvira and Miss Berry together intervened to calm this new disturbance. Then the former went on with the reading of the "resolutions. "

"'No. 2. Item . .. 1 Hand painted lion. Iron. .. . ' Hush, Aurora!. .. Yes, 'lion, ' that's right. .. . I did say 'iron. ' It's an iron lion, isn'tit?. .. Oh, _do_ be quiet! We'll never get through if everybody keepsinterrupting. 'No. 2 . .. Item . .. 1 Hand painted lion iron'--iron lion, I mean. .. . Oh, my soul and body! If everybody keeps talking I shan'tknow what I mean. .. . 'A very wonderful piece of statuary. In perfectcondition. Paint needs touching up, that's all. 

"'No. 3--Item. .. . 1 Deer. Hand painted iron. Perfectly lovely--'"

"Stuff!" This from the irrepressible Mrs. Tidditt, of course. "One hornis broke off and it looks like the Old Harry. No, I'll take that back;the Old Harry is supposed to have two horns. But that deer image is asight, just the same. Why, it ain't got any paint left on it. "

"Nonsense! It may need a little paint, here and there, but----"

"Humph! A little here and a lot there and a whole lot more in between. Elvira Snowden, that image looks as if 'twas struck with leprosy, likeLazarus in the Bible; you know it well as I do. "

Sears Kendrick enjoyed the reading of these resolutions. If it were notfor certain elements in the situation he would have considered themorning's performance the most amusing entertainment he had witnessedafloat or ashore. He managed not to laugh aloud, although he was obligedto turn his head away several times and to cough at intervals. Once ortwice he and Elizabeth Berry exchanged glances and the whimsical look ofresignation and humorous appreciation in her eyes showed that she, too, was keenly aware of the joke. 

But at other times she was serious enough and it was her expression atthese times which prevented the captain's accepting the whole ridiculousaffair as a hilarious farce. Then she looked deeply troubled andcareworn and anxious. He began to realize that this affair, funny as itwas, was but one of a series, a series of annoyances and trials andpetty squabbles which, taken in the aggregate, were anything but funnyto her. For it was obvious, the truth of what Judah Cahoon had said andJudge Knowles intimated, that this girl, Elizabeth Berry, was bearingupon her young shoulders the entire burden of responsibility for theconduct and management of affairs in the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Womenat Bayport. Her mother was supposed to bear this burden, but it wasperfectly obvious that Cordelia Berry was incapable of bearing anyresponsibilities, including her own personal ones. 

Miss Snowden solemnly read the concluding paragraph of the resolutions. It summed up those preceding it and announced that those whose nameswere appended, "being guests at the Fair Harbor, the former home of ourbeloved benefactress and friend Mrs. Lobelia Phillips, _née_ Seymour, are unanimously agreed that as a simple matter of duty to theinstitution and those within its gates, not to mention the beautifyingof Bayport, the collection of lawn statuary and fountain now adorningthe estate of the late deceased Captain Seth Snowden be bought, purchased and obtained from that estate at the very low price ofseventy-five dollars, this money to be paid from the funds in the FairHarbor treasury, and the said statuary and fountain to be erected andset up on the lawns and grounds of the Fair Harbor. Signed----"

Miss Elvira read the names of the signers. They included, as she tookpains to state, the names of every guest in the Fair Harbor withone--ahem--exception. 

"And I'm it, praise the lord, " announced Mrs. Tidditt, promptly. "Iain't quite crazy yet, nor I ain't a niece-in-law of Seth Snowden'swidow neither. "

"Esther Tidditt, I've stood your hints and slanders long enough. "

"Nobody's payin' _me_ no commissions for gettin' rid of their old junkfor 'em. "

"Esther, be still! You shouldn't say such things. Elvira, stop--stop!"Miss Berry stepped forward. Mrs. Tidditt was bristling like a combativebantam and Elvira was shaking from head to feet and crooking anduncrooking her fingers. "There mustn't be any more of this, " declaredElizabeth. "Esther, you must apologize. Stop, both of you, please. Remember, Cap'n Kendrick is here. "

This had the effect of causing every one to look at the captain oncemore. He felt unpleasantly conspicuous, but Elizabeth's next speechtransferred the general gaze from him to her. 

"There isn't any use in saying much more about this matter, it seems tome, " she said. "It comes down to this: You and the others, Elvira, thinkwe should buy the--the statues and the fountain because they would, youthink, make our lawns and grounds more beautiful. "

"We don't think at all--we know, " declared Elvira. Mrs. Brackett said, "Yes indeed, we do, " and there was a general murmur of assent. Also aloud sniff from the Tidditt direction. 

"And your mother thinks so, too, " spoke up Miss Peasley, from the group. "She told me herself she thought they were lovely. Didn't you, Cordelia?You know you did. "

Before Mrs. Berry could answer--her embarrassment and distress seemedto be bringing her again to the verge of tears--her daughter went on. 

"It doesn't make a bit of difference what mother and I think abouttheir--beauty--and all that, " she said. "The whole thing comes down tothe matter of whether or not we can afford to buy them. And we simplycannot. We haven't the money to spare. Spending seventy-five dollars foranything except the running expenses of the Harbor is now absolutelyimpossible. I told you that, Elvira, when you first suggested it. "

Miss Snowden, still trembling, regarded her resentfully. "Yes, _you_told me, " she retorted. "I know you did. You are always telling us wecan't do this or that. But why should _you_ tell us? That is what wecan't understand. _You_ ain't--aren't--manager here, so far as we know. We never heard of your appointment. _We_ always understood your motherwas the manager, duly appointed. Isn't she?"

"Of course she is, but----"

"Yes, and when we have spoken to _her_--two or three of us at differenttimes--she has said she thought buying these things was a lovely idea. Ishouldn't be surprised if she thought so now. .. . Cordelia, don't youthink the Fair Harbor ought to buy those statues and that fountain?"

This pointed appeal, of course, placed Mrs. Berry directly in thelimelight and she wilted beneath its glare. She reddened and then paled. Her fingers fidgetted with the pin at her throat. She picked up herhandkerchief and dropped it. She looked at Elvira and the committee andthen at her daughter. 

"Why--why, I don't know, " she faltered. "I think--of course I thinkthe--the statuary is very beautiful. I--I said so. I--I am always fondof pretty things. You know I am, Elizabeth, you----"

"Wait a minute, Cordelia. Didn't you tell me you thought the Fair Harborought to buy them? Didn't you tell Suzanna and me just that?"

Mrs. Berry squirmed. She did not answer but, so far as Sears Kendrickwas concerned, no answer was necessary. He was as certain as if she hadsworn it that she had told them just that thing. And, looking atElizabeth's face, he could see that she, too, was certain of it. 

"Didn't you, Cordelia?" persisted Miss Snowden. 

"Why--why, I don't know. Perhaps I did, but--but what difference does itmake? You heard what Elizabeth said. She says we can't afford it. Shealways attends to such matters, you know she does. "

"Yes, " with sarcastic emphasis, "we do, but we don't know _why_ sheshould. And in this case we aren't going to stand it. You are supposedto be managing this place, Cordelia Berry, and if you are willing toturn your duties over to a--a mere child we aren't willing to let you. Once more I ask you----"

Elizabeth interrupted. "There, there, Elvira, " she said, "what _is_ theuse? It isn't a question of mother's opinion or what she has saidbefore. It is just a matter of money. We can't afford it. "

Miss Snowden ignored her. "We shall not, " she repeated, "permit ourfuture and--and all like that to be ruined by the whims of a mere child. _That_ is final. "

She pronounced the last sentence with solemn emphasis. The pause whichfollowed should have been impressive but Mrs. Tidditt spoiled theeffect. 

"Mere child!" she repeated, significantly. "Well, I presume likely she_is_ a mere child compared to some folks. Only she just looks childishand they act that way. "

There was another outburst of indignant exclamations from the committee. The head of that body turned to her followers. 

"It is quite evident, " she declared, furiously, "that this conference isgoing to end just as the others have. But this time we are not going tosit back and be trampled on. There are those higher up to be appealed toand we shall appeal to them. Come!"

She stalked majestically to the door and marched out and down the hall, the committee following her. Only Mrs. Tidditt remained, and she but fora moment. 

"They're goin' to the back room to have another meetin', " she whispered. "If there's anything up that amounts to anything, 'Lizabeth, I'll comeback and let you know. "

Elizabeth did not answer, but Kendrick offered a suggestion. "You don'tbelong to this committee, " he observed. "Perhaps they won't let you intothe meetin'. "

The eyes behind the steel spectacles snapped sparks. "I'd like to see'em try to keep me out, " declared Mrs. Esther, and hurried after theothers. Elizabeth turned to her mother. 

"Mother, " she said, earnestly, "we must be very firm in this matter. Wesimply can't afford to spend any money just now except for necessities. If they come to you again you must tell them so. You will, won't you?"

And now Mrs. Berry's agitation reached its climax. She turned upon herdaughter. 

"Oh, I suppose so, " she cried hysterically, "I suppose so! I shall haveto go through another scene and be spoken to as if--as if I were dirtunder these women's feet instead of being as far above them in--inposition and education and refinement as the clouds. Why can't I havepeace--just a little peace and quiet? Why must I _always_ have toundergo humiliation after humiliation? I----"

"Mother, mother, please don't----"

But her mother was beyond reason. 

"And you--" she went on, "you, my own daughter, why must you always takethe other side, and put me in such positions, and--and humiliate mebefore--before---- Oh, why can't I die? I _wish_ I were dead! I do! Ido!"

She burst into a storm of hysterical sobs and hurried toward the door. Elizabeth would have gone to her but she pushed her aside and rushedinto the front hall and up the stairs. They heard her sobs upon theupper landing. 

Sears Kendrick, feeling more like an interloper than ever, looked inembarrassment at the flowered carpet. He did not dare look at the youngwoman beside him. He had never in his life felt more sorry for any one. Judge Knowles had said he hoped that he--Kendrick--might obtain ageneral idea of the condition of affairs in the Fair Harbor. The sceneshe had just witnessed had given him a better idea of that condition thananything else could have done. And, somehow or other, it was the last ofthose scenes which had affected him most. Elizabeth Berry had faced thesarcasms and sneers of the committee, had never lost her poise or hertemper, had never attempted to shift the responsibility, had neverreproached her mother for the hesitating weakness which was at the baseof all the trouble. And, in return, her mother had accused her of--allsorts of things. 

And yet when Elizabeth spoke it was in defence of that mother. 

"I hope, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, "that you won't misunderstand mymother or take what she just said too seriously. She is not very well, and very nervous, and, as you see, her position here is a trying onesometimes. "

The captain could not keep back the speech which was at his tongue'send. 

"_Your_ position is rather tryin', too, isn't it?" he observed. "It sortof would seem that way--to me. "

She smiled sadly. "Why, yes--it is, " she admitted. "But I am youngerand--and perhaps I can bear it better. "

It occurred to him that the greatest pity of all was the fact that sheshould be obliged to bear it. He did not say so, however, and she wenton, changing the subject and speaking very earnestly. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, "I am very glad you heard this--thisdisagreement this morning. Judge Knowles told me you were going to callat the Harbor here and when he said it he--well, I thought he lookedmore than he said, if you know what I mean. I didn't ask any questionsand he said nothing more, but I guess perhaps he wanted you to--tosee--well, to see what he wasn't well enough to see--or something likethat. "

She paused. The captain was embarrassed. He certainly felt guilty and healso felt as if he looked so. 

"Why--why, Miss Berry, " he stammered, "I hope you--you mustn'tthink----"

She waved his protestations aside. 

"It doesn't make a bit of difference, " she said. "No matter why you cameI am very glad you did. This ridiculous statuary business is justone--well, symptom, so to speak. If it wasn't that, it might besomething else. It comes, you see, from my position here--which reallyisn't any position at all--and their position, Elvira Snowden's and therest. They pay a certain sum to get here in the first place and a smallsum each year. There is the trouble. They think they pay for board andlodging and are guests. Of course what they pay amounts to almostnothing, but they don't realize that, or don't want to, and they expectto have their own way. Mother is--well, she is nervous and high strungand she hates scenes. They take advantage of her, some of them--no doubtthey don't consider it that, but it seems to me so--and so I have beenobliged to take charge, in a way. They don't understand that and resentit. I don't know that I blame them much. Perhaps I should resent it if Iwere in their place. Only. .. . But never mind that now. 

"This is only one of a good many differences of opinion we have had, "she went on. "In the old days--and not older than a year ago, for thatmatter--if the differences were too acute I used to go to Judge Knowles. He always settled everything, finally and sensibly. But now, since hehas been so sick, I--well, I simply can't go to him. He has been verykind to us, to mother and me, and I am very fond of him. He was a greatfriend of my father's and I think he likes me for father's sake. And nowI will not trouble him in his sickness with my troubles--I will _not_. "

She raised her head as she said it and Captain Sears, regarding her, wasagain acutely conscious of the fact that it was a very fine head indeed. 

"I understand, " he said. 

"Yes, I knew you would. And I know I could fight this out by myself. Andshall, of course. But, nevertheless, I am glad you were here as--well, as a witness, if it ever comes to that. You heard what Elvira--MissSnowden--said about appealing to those higher up. I suppose she meansMrs. Phillips, the one who founded the Harbor. If they should write toher I---- What is it, Esther?"

Mrs. Tidditt had rushed into the room, bristling. She waved her armsexcitedly. 

"'Lizbeth, 'Lizbeth, " she whispered, "they're goin' to tell him. They'remakin' up the yarn now that they're goin' to tell him. "

"Tell him? Tell who?"

"Judge Knowles. They've decided to go right straight over to the judge'shouse and--and do what they call appeal to him about them images. Elviryshe's goin', and Susanna, and Desire Peasley, too, for what I know. Whatdo you want me to do? Ain't there any way I can help stop 'em?"

For the first time in that distressing forenoon Captain Kendrick sawMiss Berry's nerve shaken. She clasped her hands. 

"Oh dear!" she cried. "Oh, dear, that is the very thing they mustn't do!I wouldn't have Judge Knowles worried or troubled about this for theworld. I have kept everything from him. He is _so_ ill! If those womengo to him and---- Oh, but they mustn't, they mustn't! I can't let them. "

Mrs. Tidditt, diminutive but combative, offered a suggestion. 

"Do you want me to go out and stop 'em?" she demanded. "I'll go andstand in the kitchen doorway, if you want me to. They won't get by ifI'm there, not in a hurry, anyway. "

"Oh no, no, Esther, of course not. "

"I tell you what I'll do. I'll go and tell Emmeline not to let 'em inthe judge's house. She's my cousin and she'll do what Iask--sometimes--if I don't ask much. "

"No, that wouldn't do any good, any permanent good. But they must not goto the judge. They must not. He has been so kind and forbearing and heis so very sick. The doctor told me that he. .. . They shan't go. They cansay anything they please to me, but they shan't torment him. "

She started toward the door through which Mrs. Tidditt had entered. Atthe threshold she paused for an instant and turned. 

"Please excuse me, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said. "I almost forgot that youwere here. I think I wouldn't wait if I were you. There will be anotherscene and I'm sure you have had scenes enough. I have, too, but. .. . Oh, well, it will be all right, I'm sure. Please don't wait. Thank you forcalling. "

She turned again but the captain stopped her. As she faced him there inthe doorway their eyes had met. Hers were moist--for the first time shewas close to the breaking point--and there was a look in them whichcaused him to forget everything except one, namely, that the crowd inthe "parrot cage" at the other end of that hall should not trouble herfurther. It was very seldom that Captain Sears Kendrick, master mariner, acted solely on impulse. But he did so now. 

"Stop, " he cried. "Miss Elizabeth, don't go. Stay where you are. .. . Here--you--" turning to Mrs. Tidditt. "You go and tell those folks Iwant to see 'em. Tell 'em to come aft here--now. "

There was a different note in his voice, a note neither Elizabeth northe Tidditt woman had before heard. Yet if Judah Cahoon had been presenthe would have recognized it. He had heard it many times, aboard manytall ships, upon many seas. It was the captain's quarter-deck voice andit meant business. 

Mrs. Tidditt and Elizabeth had not heard it, and they looked at thespeaker in surprise. Captain Sears looked at them, but not for long. 

"Lively, " he commanded. "Do you hear? Go for'ard and tell that crew inthe galley, or the fo'castle, or wherever they are, to lay aft here. I've got somethin' to say to 'em. "

It was seldom that Esther Tidditt was at a loss for words. As a usualthing her stock was unlimited. Now she merely gasped. 

"You--you--" she stammered. "You want me to ask--to ask Elviry andSusanna and them to come in here?"

"Ask? Who said anything about askin'? I want you to tell 'em I say forthem to come here. It's an order, and you can tell 'em so, if you wantto. "

Mrs. Tidditt gasped again. "Well!" she exclaimed. "Well, my good lordy, if this ain't---- A-ll right, _I'll_ tell 'em. "

She hastened down the corridor. Elizabeth ventured a faint protest. 

"But, Cap'n Kendrick--" she began. He stopped her. 

"It is all right, Miss Elizabeth, " he said. "I'm handlin' this matternow. All you've got to do is look on. .. . Well, are they comin' or must Igo after 'em?"

Apparently he had forgotten that his lameness made going anywhere a slowproceeding. As a matter of fact he had. He had forgotten everythingexcept the business of the moment and the joy of being once more insupreme command. 

The message borne by Mrs. Tidditt had, presumably, been delivered. Themessenger had left the dining room door open and through it came atremendous rattle of tongues. Obviously the captain's order had createda sensation. 

Elizabeth listened. 

"Well?" repeated Sears, again. "Are they goin' to come?"

Miss Berry smiled faintly. "I think they will come, " she answered. "Ifthey are as--as curious as I am they will. "

They were. At any rate they came. Miss Snowden, Mrs. Brackett and Mrs. Chase in the lead, the others following. Mrs. Tidditt brought up therear, marshaling the stragglers, as it were. 

Elvira was, of course, the spokeswoman. She was the incarnation ofdignified and somewhat resentful surprise. 

"We have been told, " she began, loftily, "we have been _told_, Cap'nKendrick, that you wished to speak to us. We can't imagine why, but wehave came--come, I should say. _Do_ you wish to speak to us?"

Kendrick nodded. "Yes, " he said crisply, "I do. I want to tell you thatyou mustn't go to Judge Knowles about buyin' those iron statues of Cap'nSeth's or about anything else. He is sick and mustn't be worried. MissBerry says so, and I agree with her. "

He paused From the committee came a gasp, or concert of gasps andmuttered exclamations, indicating astonishment. Elvira voiced thefeeling. 

"You agree with her!" she exclaimed. "_You_ agree? Why--I never did!"

"Yes. And I agree with her, too, about buyin' those--er--lions and dogsand--hogs, or whatever they are. I don't say they aren't worthseventy-five dollars or more--or less--I don't know. But I do say that, until I have had time to look into things aboard here, I don't want anymoney spent except for stores and other necessities. There isn't a bitof personal feelin' in this, you must understand, it is business, that'sall. "

He paused once more, to let this sink in. It sank apparently and when itagain came to the surface an outburst of incoherent indignation camewith it. Every committee-woman said something, even Mrs. Chase, althoughher observations were demands to know what was being said by the rest. Elizabeth was the only one who remained silent. She was gazing, wide-eyed, at the captain, and upon her face was a strange expression, an expression of eagerness, dawning understanding, and--yes, of hope. 

Miss Snowden was so completely taken aback that she was incapable ofconnected speech. Mrs. Susanna Brackett, however, was of a temperamentless easily upset. She stepped forward. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she demanded, "what are you talkin' about? What righthave you got to say how the Fair Harbor money shall be spent? What areyou interferin' here for I'd like to know?"

"I'm not interferin'. I'm taking charge, that's all. 

"Takin' _charge_?. .. My land of love!. .. Charge of what?"

"Of this craft here, this Fair Harbor place. Judge Knowles offered methe general management of it three days ago. "

Even the Brackett temperament was not proof against such a shock. Susanna herself found difficulty in speaking. 

"You--you--" she sputtered. "My soul to heavens! Do you mean---- Are youcrazy?"

"Um--maybe. But, anyhow, crazy or not, I'm in command aboard here fromnow on. Miss Elizabeth here--and her mother, of course--will be captainand mate, same as they've always been, but I'll be--well, commodore oradmiral, whichever you like to call it. It's a queer sort of a job for aman like me, " he added, with a grim smile, "but it looks as if it waswhat we'd all have to get used to. "

For a moment there was silence, absolute silence, in the best parlor ofthe Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women. Then that silence was broken. 

"What is he sayin'?" wailed Mrs. Aurora Chase. "Elviry Snowden, whydon't you tell me what he's a-sayin'?"

CHAPTER VII

The bomb had burst, the debris had fallen, the smoke had to some extentcleared, the committee, still incoherent but by no means speechless, hadretired to the dining room to talk it over. Mrs. Tidditt had accompaniedthem; and Sears Kendrick and Elizabeth Berry were saying good-by at thefront door. 

"Well, " observed the captain, dubiously, "I'm glad you don't think I'mmore than nine tenths idiot. It's some comfort to know you can see onetenth of common-sense in the thing. It's more than I can, and that'shonest. I give you my word, Miss Elizabeth, when I set sail from Judah'sback entry this mornin' I hadn't any more idea that I should undertakethe job of handlin' the Fair Harbor than--well, than that Snowden womanhad of kissin' that little spitfire that was flyin' up in her face everyminute or two while she was tryin' to read that paper. .. . Ha-ha! thatwas awfully funny. "

Elizabeth smiled. "It was, " she agreed. "And it looks so much funnier tome now than it did then, thanks to you, Cap'n Kendrick. You have taken agreat load off my mind. "

"Um--yes, and taken it on my own, I shouldn't wonder. I do hope you'llmake it clear to your mother that all I intend doin' is to keep a sortof weather eye on money matters, that's all. She is to have just thesame ratin' aboard here that she has always had--and so will you, ofcourse. "

"But I haven't had any real rating, you know. And now I will be more ofa fifth wheel than ever. You and mother can manage the Harbor. You won'tneed me at all. I can take a vacation, can't I? Won't that bewonderful!"

He looked at her in unfeigned alarm. 

"Here, here!" he exclaimed. "Lay to! Come up into the wind! Don't talkthat way, Miss Berry, or I'll jump over the rail before I've reallyclimbed aboard this craft. I'm countin' on you to do three thirds of thework, just as I guess you've been doin' for a good while. All I shall begood for--if anything--is to be a sort of reef in the channel, as youmight say, something for committees like this one to run their bows onif they get too far off the course. "

"And that will be the most useful thing any one can do, Cap'n Kendrick. Oh, I shall thank Judge Knowles--in my mind--so many, many times a dayfor sending you here, I know I shall. I guessed, when he told me youwere going to call, that there was something behind that call. And therewas. What a wise old dear he is, bless him. "

"Is he? Well I wish I was surer of the wisdom in trappin' me into takin'this command. However, I have taken it, so I'll have to do the best Ican for a while, anyhow. Afterwards--well, probably I won't last _but_ alittle while, so we won't worry about more than that. And you'll have tostand by the wheel, Miss Elizabeth. If it hadn't been for you--I meanfor the way that committee lit into you--I don't think I should everhave taken charge. "

"I know. And I sha'n't forget. You may count on me, Cap'n Kendrick, foranything I can do to help. "

His face brightened. "Good!" he exclaimed. "That's as good as aninsurance policy on the ship and cargo. With you to pilot and me tohandle the crew she ought to keep somewhere in deep water. .. . Well, I'llbe gettin' back to port. Judah's dinner will be gettin' cold and hewon't like that. And to-morrow mornin' I'll come again and we'll have alook at the figures. "

"Yes. I'll have the books and bills and everything ready. .. . Oh, becareful! Can't I help you down the step?"

He shook his head. "I can navigate after a fashion, " he said, grimly. "Iget along about as graceful as a brick sloop in a head tide, but, by theLord Harry, I'll get along somehow. .. . No, don't, please. I'd ratheryou didn't help me, if you don't mind. "

Slowly, painfully, and with infinite care he lowered himself down thestep. On level ground once more, leaning heavily on his cane, he turnedto her and smiled a somewhat shame-faced apology. 

"It's silly, I know, " he said, panting a little, "but I've always beenused to doin' about as I pleased and it--somehow it plagues me to thinkI can't go it alone still. Just stubborn foolishness. "

She shook her head. "No, it isn't, " she said, quickly. "I understand. And I do hope you will be better soon. Of course you will. "

"Will I?. .. Well, maybe. Good mornin', Miss Berry. Be sure and tell yourmother she's to be just as much cap'n as she ever was. "

He hobbled along the walk to the gate. As he passed beneath the sign helooked back. She was still standing in the doorway and when he limped inat the entrance of the General Minot place she was there yet, watchinghim. 

He said no word to Judah of his acceptance of the post of commander ofthe Fair Harbor. He felt that Judge Knowles should be the first to knowof it and that he, himself, should be the one to tell him. So, afterdinner was over, and Judah had harnessed the old horse to go to theMinot wood lot for a load of pine boughs and brush for kindling, heasked his ex-cook to take him across to the judge's in the wagon, leavehim there, and come for him later. Mr. Cahoon, of course, was delightedto be of service but, of course also, he was tremendously curious. 

"Hum, " he observed, "goin' to see the judge again, be you, Cap'n Sears?"

"Yes. "

"Hum. .. . Ain't heard that he's any sicker, nor nothin' like that, haveyou?"

"No. "

"I see. .. . Yus, yus. .. . Just goin' to make a--er--sort of--what youmight call a--er--a call, I presume likely. "

"I shouldn't wonder. "

"Um-hm. .. . I see. .. . Yus, yus, I see. .. . Um-hm. .. . Well, I suppose wemight as well--er--start now as any time, eh?"

"Better, I should say, Judah. Whenever you and the Foam Flake are ready, I am. "

The Foam Flake was the name with which Judah had rechristened the oldhorse. The animal's name up to the time of the rechristening had beenPet, but this, Mr. Cahoon explained, he could _not_ stand. 

"'Whatever else he is, ' says I to young Minot, 'he ain't no pet--not ofmine. The only way I ever feel like pettin' that oat barrel, ' I says, 'is with a rope's end. ' 'Well, why don't you give him a new name?' sayshe. 'What'll I call him?' says I. 'Anything you can think of, ' he says. 'By Henry, ' says I. 'I have called him about everything I can think of, already. ' Haw, haw! That was a pretty good one, wan't it Cap'n Sears?"

"But where did you get 'Foam Flake' from?" the captain had wanted toknow. 

"Oh, it just come to me, as you might say, same as them things do comesometimes. I was tellin' the Methodist minister about it one day and hesaid 'twas a--er--one of them--er--inflammations. Eh? Don't seem as ifit could have been 'inflammation, ' but 'twas somethin' like it. "

"Inspiration, maybe. "

"That's the ticket, inspiration's what 'twas. Well, I was kind ofdraggin' a seine through my head, so to speak, tryin' to haul aboard alikely name for the critter, and fetchin' the net in empty every time, when one day that--er--what-d'ye-call-it?--inflammation landed on me. I'd piloted 'Pet' and the truck wagon over to Harniss--and worked mypassage every foot of the way--and over there to Brett's store I metLuther Wixon, who was home from a v'yage to the West Indies. Lute and mehad been to sea together half a dozen times, and we got kind ofswappin' yarns about the vessels we'd been in. 

"'Have you heard about the old _Foam Flake_?' says Lute. 'She waswrecked on the Jersey coast off Barnegat, ' he says, 'and now they'vemade a barge out of her hull and she's freightin' hay in New Yorkharbor, ' he says. 

"Well, sir, I hauled off and fetched the broadside of my leg a slap youcould have heard to Jericho. 'By the creepin', jumpin', ' says I. 'I'vegot it!' 'Yes, ' he says, 'you act as if you had. But what do you takefor it?' 'I wouldn't take a dollar note for it right now, ' I told him. And I wouldn't have, nuther. The old _Foam Flake_--maybe you rememberher, Cap'n Sears--was the dumdest, lop-sidedest, crankiest old white tubof a bark that ever carried sail. When I was aboard of her she wouldn'tsteer fit to eat, always wanted to go to port when you tried to put herto starboard, walloped and slopped along awkward as a cow, was theslowest thing afloat, and all she was ever really fit for was what theyare usin' her for now, and that was to stow hay in. If that wan't thatold horse of Minot's all over then I hope I'll never smoke a five-centcigar again. 'You ain't "Pet" no more, ' says I to the critter; 'yourname's "Foam Flake!"' Haw, haw! See now, don't you, Cap'n Sears?"

Foam Flake and the truck-wagon landed the captain at the Knowles gateand, a few minutes later, Kendrick was, rather shamefacedly, announcingto the judge his acceptance of the superintendency of the Fair Harbor. The invalid, as grimly sardonic and indomitable as ever, chuckledbetween spasms of pain and weakness. 

"Good! Good!" he exclaimed. "I thought you wouldn't say no if you oncesaw how things were over there. Congratulations on your good sense, Kendrick. "

Sears shook his head. "Don't be any more sarcastic than you can help, Judge, " he said. 

"No sarcasm about it. If you hadn't stepped in to help that girl Ishould have known you didn't have any sense at all. By the way, I didn'tpraise her too highly when we talked before, did I? She is considerableof a girl, Elizabeth Berry, eh, Cap'n?"

The captain nodded. 

"She is, " he admitted. "And she was so confoundedly plucky, and shestood up against that crowd of--of----"

"Mariners' women. Yes. Ho, ho! I should like to have been there. "

"I am glad you wasn't. But when I saw how she stood up to them, and thenwhen her mother----"

"Yes. Um . .. Yes, I know. Isaac Berry was my friend and his daughter isa fine girl. We'll remember that when we talk about the family, Kendrick. .. . Whew! Well, I feel better. With you and Elizabeth to handlematters over there, Lobelia's trust will be in good hands. Now I can goto the cemetery in comfort. "

He chuckled as if the prospect was humorous. Captain Sears spoke quicklyand without considering exactly how the words sounded. 

"Indeed you can't, " he protested. "Judge Knowles, I'm goin' to need youabout every minute of every day from now on. "

"Nonsense! You won't need me but a little while, fortunately. And--forthat little while, probably--I shall be here and at your disposal. Comein whenever you want to talk matters over. If the doctor or that damnedhousekeeper try to stop you, hit 'em over the head. Much obliged to you, Cap'n Kendrick. He, he! We'll give friend Egbert a shock when he comesto town. .. . Oh, he'll come. Some of these days he'll come. Be ready forhim, Kendrick, be ready for him. "

That evening the captain told Judah of his new position and Judah'sreception of the news was not encouraging. Somehow Sears felt that, withthe voice of Judah Cahoon was, in this case, speaking the opinion ofBayport. 

Judah had been scrubbing the frying-pan. He dropped it in the sink witha tremendous clatter. 

"_No!_" he shouted. "You're jokin', ain't you, Cap'n Sears?"

"It's no joke, Judah. "

"My creepin' Henry! You can't mean it. You ain't really, honest togodfreys, cal'latin' to pilot that--that Fair Harbor craft, be you?"

"I am, Judah. Wish me luck. "

"Wish you _luck_! Jumpin', creepin', crawlin', hoppin'---- Why, thereain't no luck _in_ it. That ain't no man's job, Cap'n Sears. That's awoman's job, and even a woman'd have her hands full. Why, Cap'n, they'll--that crew of--of old hens in there they'll pick your eyes out. "

"Oh, I guess not, Judah. I've handled crews before. "

"Yes--yes, you have--men crews aboard ship. But this ain't no men crew, this is a woman crew. You can't lam _this_ crew over the head with nohandspike. When one of those fo'mast hands gives you back talk you can'tknock _her_ into the scuppers. All you can do is just stand and take itand wait for your chance to say somethin'. And you won't _git_ nochance. What chance'll you have along with Elviry Snowden and DesirePeasley and them? Talk! Why, jumpin' Henry, Cap'n Sears, any one of themShanghais in there can talk more in a minute than the average man couldin a hour. Any one of 'em! Take that Susanna Brackett now. Oh, I'veheard about _her_! She had a half-brother one time. Where is he now? Ahha! Where is he? Nobody knows, that's where he is. Him and her used tolive together. Folks that lived next door used to hear her tonguea-goin' at him all hours day or night. Wan't no 'watch and watch' inthat house--no sir-ee! She stood _all_ the watches. She----"

"There, there, Judah. I guess I can stand the talk. If it gets too badI'll put cotton in my ears. "

"Huh! Cotton! Cotton won't do no good. Have to solder your ears uplike--like a leaky tea-kittle, if you wanted to keep from hearin'Susanna Brackett's clack. Why, that brother of hers--Ebenezer Samuels, seems to me his name was. Seems to me they told me that Susanna's namewas Samuels afore she married Brackett. Maybe twan't Samuels. Seems tome, now I think of it, as if 'twas Schwartz. Yet it don't hardly seemas if it could be, does it? I guess likely I'm gettin' him mixed with afeller name of Samuel Schwartz that I knew on South Street in New Yorkone time. Run a pawn shop, he did. I remember _that_ Schwartz 'cause heused to _take_ stuff, you know--er--er--same as a Chinaman. One of themoakum eaters, that s what he was--an oakum eater. Why one time he----"

Sears never did learn what happened to Mrs. Brackett's brother. Judah'sreminiscent fancy, once started, wandered far and wide, and in this caseit forgot entirely to return to the missing Samuels--or Schwartz. ButMr. Cahoon expressed himself freely on the subject of his belovedex-captain and present lodger taking charge of the establishment nextdoor. Sears' explanations and excuses bore little weight. Time and timeagain that evening Mr. Cahoon would come out of a dismal reverie toexclaim: "Skipper of the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women! You! Cap'nSears Kendrick, skipper of _that_ craft! Don't seem possible, somehow, does it?"

"Look here Judah, " the captain at last said, in desperation, "if youfeel so almighty bad about it, perhaps you won't want me here. I canmove, you know. "

Judah turned a horrified face in his direction. "Move!" he repeated"_Don't_ talk so, Cap'n Sears. That's the one comfort I see in the wholebusiness. Livin' right next door to 'em the way you and me do, you canalways run into port here if the weather gets too squally over yonder. Yes, sir there'll always be a snug harbor under my lee when the FairHarbor's too rugged. Eh? Ha, ha!"

Just before retiring Sears said, "There's just one thing I want you todo, Judah. You may feel--as I know you do feel--that my takin' this jobis a foolish thing. But don't you let any one else know you feel thatway. "

Judah snorted. "Don't you worry, Cap'n Sears, " he said. "If any one ofthem sea lawyers down to Bassett's store gets to heavin' sass at meabout your takin' the hellum at the Harbor I'll shut their hatches for'em. I'll tell 'em the old judge and Lobelia was ondecided between youand Gen'ral Grant for the job, but finally they picked you. Don'tmistake me now, Cap'n. Your goin' over there is the best thing forthe--the henroost that ever was or ever will be. It's you I'm thinkin'about. It ain't--well, by the crawlin' prophets, 'tain't the kind ofberth you've been used to. Now is it, Cap'n Sears?"

Kendrick smiled, a one-sided smile. 

"Maybe not, Judah, " he admitted. "It is a queer berth, but it's a berth, and, unless these legs of mine get well a lot quicker than I think theywill, I may be mighty thankful to have any berth at all. "

He told his sister this when she called to learn if the rumor she hadheard was true. She shook her head. 

"Perhaps it is all right, Sears, " she said. "I suppose you know best. But, somehow, I--well, I hate to think of your doin' it. "

"I know. You're proud, Sarah. Well, I used to be proud too, before theship-chandlery business and the Old Colony railroad dismasted me andleft me high and dry. "

She put a hand on his arm. "Don't, Sears, " she pleaded. "You know why Ihate to have you do it. It don't seem--it don't seem--you know what Imean. "

"A man's job. I know. Judah said the same thing. I took Judge Knowles'offer because it seemed the only way I could earn my salt. If I didn'ttake it you and Joel might have had a poor relation to board and lodge. And you've got enough on your hands already, Sarah. "

She sighed. "Of course I knew that was why you took it, " she said. 

Yet, even as he said it, he realized that the statement was not thewhole truth. The fifteen hundred a year salary had tempted him, but ifhe had not gone to the Fair Harbor on that forenoon and seen ElizabethBerry brave the committee and her mother, it is extremely doubtful if hewould have yielded. In all probability he would have declined thejudge's offer and have risked the prospect of the almost hopelessfuture, for a time longer at least. 

But, having accepted, he characteristically cast doubts, misgivings andmight-have-beens over the side, as he had cast wreckage over the railsof his ships after storms, and, while Bayport buzzed with gossip andcriticism and surmise concerning him, took up his new duties and wentahead with them. The morning following that of his dramatic scene withthe committee he limped to the door of the Fair Harbor and, for thefirst time, entered that door as general manager. 

He anticipated, and dreaded, a perhaps painful and surely embarrassingscene with Mrs. Berry, but was pleasantly disappointed. Elizabeth, trueto her promise, had evidently broken the news to her mother and, also, had reconciled the matron to her partial deposing. Mrs. Berry was, ofcourse, a trifle martyrlike, a little aggrieved, but on the wholeresigned. 

"I presume, Captain Kendrick, " she said, "that I should have expectedsomething of the sort. Dear 'Belia is abroad and Judge Knowles is ill, and, from what I hear, his mind is not what it was. "

Sears, repressing a smile, agreed that that might be the case. 

"But, of course, Mrs. Berry, " he explained, "I did not take the positionwith the least idea of interferin' with you. You will be--er--er--well, just what you have been here, you know. I've shipped to help you and thejudge and Miss Elizabeth in any way I can, that's all. "

With the situation thus diplomatically explained Mrs. Berry brightened, restored her handkerchief to her pocket--in the '70's ladies' gowns hadpockets--and announced that she was sure that she and the captain wouldget on charmingly together. 

"And, after all, Captain Kendrick, " she gushed, "a man's advice is sooften _so_ necessary in business, you know, and all that. Just as awoman's advice helps a man at times. Why, Captain Berry--my dearhusband--used to say that without my advice he would have beenabsolutely at sea, yes, absolutely. "

According to Bayport gossip, as related by Judah, Captain Isaac Berryhad been, literally, during the latter part of his life, absolutely atsea as much as he possibly could. "And mighty thankful to be there, too, " so Mr. Cahoon was wont to add. 

Elizabeth heard a portion of Sears interview with her mother, but shemade no comment upon it, to him at least. When he announced hisintention of interviewing Miss Snowden, however, she was greatlysurprised and said so. "You want to speak with Elvira, Cap'n Kendrick?"she repeated. "You do, really? Do you--of course I am not interfering, please don't think I am--but do you think it a--a wise thing to do, justnow?"

The captain nodded. "Why, yes, I do, " he said. "Oh, it's all right, MissElizabeth, I'm not goin' to start any rows. You wouldn't think it tolook at me, probably, but I've got an idea in my head and I'm goin' totry it out on this Elvira. "

It was some time before he was able to catch Miss Snowden alone, but atlast he did and, as it happened, in that same summer-house, the Eyrie, where he had first seen her. The interview began, on her part, asfrostily as a February morning in Greenland, but ended like a balmyevening in Florida. The day following he laid his plans to meet andspeak with Mrs. Brackett and the militant Susanna thereafter became aspeaceful, so far as he was concerned, as a dovecote in spring. ElizabethBerry, noticing these changes, and surmising their cause, regarded himwith something like awe. 

"Really, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, "I'm beginning to be a little afraidof you. When you first spoke of interviewing Elvira Snowden aloneI--well, I was strongly tempted to send for the constable. I didn't knowwhat might happen. She was saying--so Esther Tidditt told me--the mostdreadful things about you and I was frightened for your safety. And Mrs. Brackett was just as savage. And now--why, Elvira this very morning toldme, herself, that she considered your taking the management here ablessing. I believe she did call it a blessing in disguise, but thatdoesn't make any real difference. And Susanna--three days ago--wascalling upon all our--guests here to threaten to leave in a body, as aprotest against the giving over of the management of their own Harbor toa--excuse me--man like you. I don't know she meant by that, but it iswhat she said. And now----"

"Just a minute, Miss Elizabeth. Called me a man, did she? Well, comin'from her that's a compliment, in a way. She ought to know she's thenearest thing, herself, to a man that I've about ever seen in skirts. But that's nothin'. What interests me is that idea of all the crewaboard here threatenin' to leave. They could, I suppose, if they wantedto same as anybody aboard a ship could jump overboard. But in both casesthe question would be the same, wouldn't it? Where would they go toafter they left?"

Miss Berry smiled. "They have no idea of leaving, " she said. "But theylike to think--or pretend to think--that they could if they wanted toand that the Fair Harbor would go to rack and ruin if they did. Itcomes, you see, of to paying that hundred dollars a year. That, to theirmind--and I imagine Mrs. Phillips had it in her mind too, when sheplanned this place--prevents it being a 'home' in the ordinary sense ofthe word. But Susanna's threatening to leave amounts to nothing. What Iam so much interested in is to know how you changed her attitude andElvira's from war to peace? How did you do it, Cap'n Kendrick?"

The captain's left eyelid drooped. He smiled. "Well, " he said, slowly, "I tell you. I've sailed in all sorts of weather and I've come to theconclusion that when you're in a rough sea the first thing to do, if youcan, is to smooth it down. If you can't--why, then fight it. The besttreatment I know for a rough sea is to sling a barrel of oil over thebows. It's surprisin' what a little bit of oil will do to make thingssmoother for a vessel. It's always worth tryin', anyway, and that's howI felt in this case of Elvira and Susanna. When I started to beat upinto their neighborhood I had a barrel of oil slung over both my portand starboard bows. I give you my word, Miss Elizabeth, I was theoiliest craft afloat in these waters, I do believe. "

His smile broadened. Elizabeth smiled too, but her smile was a bituncertain. 

"I--I _think_ I understand you, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said. "But I'm notquite sure. How did you---- Would you mind being just a little moreclear? Won't you explain a little more fully?"

"Surely. Easiest thing in the world. Take Sister Snowden. I cast anchorunder her lee--and 'twas like tyin' up to an iceberg at first. Ha, ha!--and I began by sayin' that I had been waitin' for a chance to speakwith her alone. There were a few things I wanted to explain, I said. Itold her that of course I realized she was not like the average, commonrun of females here in the Harbor. I knew that so far as brains andrefinement and--er--beauty were concerned she was far, far ahead, hadall the rest of 'em hull down, so to speak. "

"Cap'n Kendrick, you didn't!"

"Eh! Well, maybe I left out the 'beauty, ' but otherwise than that I toldher just that thing. The ice began to melt a little and when I went onto say that I realized how much the success of the Fair Harbor dependedon her sense and brains and so on she was obliged to give in that sheagreed with me. It was what she had thought all the time, you see; sowhen I told her I thought so too, we began to get on a common fishin'ground, so to speak. And the more I hinted at how wonderful I thoughtshe was the smarter she began to think _I_ was. It ended in a sort ofunderstandin' between us. I am to do the best I can as skipper here andshe is to help along in the fo'castle, as you might say. When I need anyof her suggestions I'm to go and ask her for 'em. And we aren't eitherof us goin' to tell the rest of the crew--or passengers, or whatever youcall 'em--a word. When she and I separated there was a puddle of oil allaround that Eyrie place, but there wasn't a breaker in sight. Ha, ha!Oh, dear!"

He laughed aloud. Miss Berry laughed, too, but she still seemed somewhatpuzzled. 

"But, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, "you're not going to ask for hersuggestions, are you?"

"Only when I need 'em. The agreement was that I was to ask when I needed'em. I have a pretty strong feelin' that I shan't need 'em much. "

"But it was her idea, the buying of that ridiculous statuary. "

"Yes, I know. We talked about that. I told her that I was sure the ironmenagerie that belonged to her uncle, or whoever it was, would have madethis place look as lovely as the Public Garden in Boston. I said you andyour mother thought so, too, but that the trouble was we couldn't afford'em at present. If ever another collection hove in sight that we couldafford, I'd let her know. But, whatever happened, she must always feelthat I was dependin' on her. She said she was glad to know that and thatI _could_ depend on her. So it'll be fair weather in her latitude for awhile. "

"And Susanna--Mrs. Brackett? What did you say to her?"

"Oh, exactly what I said to Elvira. I can depend on her, too, she saidso. And I can have _her_ advice--when I need it. The main thing, MissElizabeth, was, it seemed to me, to smooth down the rough water until Icould learn a little of my new job, at least enough to be of some helpto you. Because it is plain enough that if this Fair Harbor is to keepafloat and on an even keel, you will keep it so--just as you have beenkeepin' it for the last couple of years. I called myself the admiralhere the other day, when I was talkin' to that committee. I realize thatall I really am, or ever will be, is a sort of mate to you, MissElizabeth. And a good deal of a lubber even at that, I am afraid. "

The lubber mate was, at least, a diligent student. Each morning foundhim hobbling to the door of the Fair Harbor--the side door now, not thestately and seldom-used front door--and in the room which Cordelia Berrycalled her "study" he and Elizabeth studied the books and accounts ofthe institution. These were in good condition, surprisingly goodcondition, and he of course realized that that condition was due to thecapability and care of the young woman herself. Mrs. Berry professed acomplete knowledge of everything pertaining to the Fair Harbor, but inreality her knowledge was very superficial. In certain situations shewas of real help. When callers came during hours when Elizabeth andSears were busy Cordelia received and entertained them and was in herelement while doing so. At dinner--on one or two occasions the captaindined at the Harbor instead of limping back to Judah's kitchen--shepresided at the long table and was the very pattern of the perfecthostess. A stranger, happening in by chance, might have thought her theowner of palaces and plantations, graciously dispensing hospitality tothose less favored. As an ornament--upon the few occasions when the FairHarbor required social ornamentation--Cordelia Berry left little to bedesired. But when it came--as it usually did come--to the plain dutiesof housekeeping and managing, she left much. And that much was, so SearsKendrick discovered, left to the willing and able hands of her daughter. 

As, under Elizabeth's guidance, Captain Sears plodded through the booksand accounts, he was increasingly impressed with one thing, which washow very close to the wind, to use his own seafaring habit of thoughtand expression, the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women was obliged to sail. The income from the fifty thousand dollar endowment fund was small, theseven hundred dollars paid yearly by the guests helped but a little, andexpenses, even when pared down as closely as they had been, seemed largein comparison. Mrs. Berry's salary as matron was certainly not a big oneand Elizabeth drew no salary at all. He spoke to her about it. 

"Don't they pay you any wages for all the work you do here?" he queried. 

She shook her head. "Of course not, " she replied. "How could they? Wherewould the money come from?"

"But--why, confound it, you run the whole craft. It isn't fair that youshould do it for nothin'. "

"I do it to help mother. Her salary as matron here is practically allshe has. She needs me. And, of course, the Fair Harbor is our home, justas it is Elvira's and Esther Tidditt's, and the rest. "

He glanced at her quickly to see if there was any trace of bitterness orresentment in her expression. He had detected none in her voice. But shewas, apparently, not resentful, not as resentful as he, for that matter. 

"Yes, " he said, and if he had paused to think he would not have said it, "it is your home now, but it isn't goin' to be always, is it? You're notplannin' to stay here and help your mother for the rest of your life?"

She did not reply at once, when she did the tone was decisive and final. 

"I shall stay as long as I am needed, " she said. "Here are the bills forthe last month, Cap'n Kendrick. "

That evening the captain employed Judah and the Foam Flake to carry himto and from Judge Knowles'. The call was a very brief one. Sears haddetermined to trouble the judge as little as was humanly possible. 

"Judge, " he said, coming to the point at once, "I've been lookin' overthe books and runnin' expenses of that Harbor place and for the life ofme I can't see how it can carry another cent and keep afloat. As it is, that Berry girl ought to draw at least a hundred a month, and shedoesn't get a penny. "

Knowles nodded. "I know it, " he agreed. "But you say yourself that theFair Harbor can't spare another cent. How could we pay her?"

"I don't know. And what I don't know a whole lot more is how I'm goin'to be paid fifteen hundred a year. Where's that comin' from; can youtell me?"

From the bed--the invalid was in bed most of the time now--came acharacteristic chuckle. "He, he, he, " laughed the judge. "So you've goton far enough to wonder about that, eh?"

"I certainly have. And I want to say right here that----"

"Hold on! Hold on, Kendrick! Don't be a fool. And don't make themistake of thinkin' I'm one, either. I may have let you guess that theFair Harbor was to pay your salary. It isn't because it can't. _I'm_paying it and I'm going to pay it--while I'm alive and after I'm dead. You're my substitute and so long as you keep that job you'll get yourpay. It's all arranged for, so don't argue. "

"But, Judge, why----"

"Shut up. I want to do it and I can afford to do it. Let a dead man havea little fun, can't you. You'll earn your money, I tell you. And whenthat Egbert comes I'll get the worth of mine--dead or alive, I'll getit. Now go home and let me alone, I'm tired. "

But Sears still hesitated. 

"That's all right, Judge, " he said. "You've got the right to spend yourown money, I presume likely, so I won't say a word; although I may havemy own opinion as to your judgment in spendin' it. But there's one morething I can't quite get over. Here am I, about third mate's helperaboard that Harbor craft, bein' paid fifteen hundred a year, and thatgirl--as fine, capable, sensible--er--er--nice girl as ever lived, I dobelieve--workin' her head off and runnin' the whole ship, as you mightsay, and bein' paid nothin' at all. It isn't right. It isn't square. Iwon't stand it. I'll heave up my commission and you pay her the fifteenhundred. _She_ earns it. "

Silence. Then another slow chuckle from the bed. 

"Humph!" grunted Judge Knowles. "'Fine, capable, sensible, nice--'Getting pretty enthusiastic, aren't you, Kendrick? He, he, he!"

Taken by surprise, and suddenly aware that he had spoken veryemphatically, the captain blushed, and felt, himself a fool for sodoing. 

"Why--I--I--" he stammered, then laughed, and declared stoutly, "I don'tcare if I am. That girl deserves all the praise anybody's got aboard. She's a wonder, that's what she is. And she isn't bein' treated right. "

The answer was of a kind quite unexpected. 

"Well, " rasped the judge, "who said she was?"

"Eh? What----"

"Who said she was? Not I. Don't you suppose I know what Elizabeth Berryis worth to Lobelia Seymour's idiot shop over yonder? And what shegets--or doesn't get? And didn't I tell you that her father was my bestfriend? Then. .. . Oh, well! Kendrick, you go back to your job. And don'tyou fret about that girl. What she doesn't get now she. .. . Humph! Clearout, and don't worry me any more. Good night. "

So the captain departed. In a way his mind was more at rest. He wasnearer to being reconciled to the fifteen hundred a year now that heknew it was not to come from the funds of the Fair Harbor. Judge Knowleswas reputed to be rich. If he chose to pay a salary to gratify awhim--why, let him. He, Kendrick, would do his best to earn that salary. But, nevertheless, he did not intend to let Elizabeth Berry remain underany misapprehension as to where the salary was coming from. He wouldtell her the next time they met. A new thought occurred to him. Why nottell her then--that very evening? It was not late, only about nineo'clock. 

"Judah, " he said, "I've got to run in to the Harbor a minute. Drive mearound to the side door, will you? And then wait there for me, that's agood fellow. "

So, leaving the Foam Flake and its pilot to doze comfortably in the softsilence of the summer evening, Sears--after Judah had, as was hiscustom, lifted him down from the wagon seat and handed him hiscane--plodded to the side door of the Harbor and knocked. Mrs. Brackettanswered the knock. 

"Why, how d'ye do, Cap'n Kendrick?" she said, graciously. "Come rightin. We wasn't expectin' you. You don't very often call evenin's. Comeright in. I guess you know everybody here. "

He did, of course, for the group in the back sitting room was made up ofthe regular guests. He shook hands with them all, including MissSnowden, who greeted him with queenly condescension, and little Mrs. Tidditt, who jerked his arm up and down as if it was a pump handle, andaffirmed that she was glad to see him, adding, as an after thought, "Even if I did see you afore to-day. "

"Now you are just in time, Cap'n Kendrick, " said Miss Elvira. "We aregoing to have our usual little 'sing' before we go to bed. Desire--MissPeasley--plays the melodeon for us and we sing a few selections, sacredselections usually, it is our evening custom. Do join us, Cap'nKendrick. We should love to have you. "

The captain thanked them, but declined. He had run in only for a moment, he said, a matter of business, and must not stop. 

"Besides, I shouldn't be any help, " he added. "I can't sing a note. "

Miss Snowden would have uttered some genteel protest, but Mrs. Tiddittspoke first. 

"Humph! _That_ won't make any difference, " she announced. "Neither canany of the rest of us--not the right notes. "

Possibly Elvira, or Susanna, might have retorted. The former looked asif she were about to, but Mrs. Aurora Chase came forward. 

"And it wasn't more'n ha'f past six neither, " she declared withconviction. 

Just why or when it was half past six, or what had happened at thattime, or what fragment of conversation Aurora's impaired hearing hadcaught which led her to think this happening was being discussed, thecaptain was destined never to learn. For at that instant Miss Berry cameinto the room, entering from the hall. 

"Who is it?" she asked. "Why, good evening, Cap'n Kendrick. "

She was what two thirds of Bayport would have called "dressed up. " Thatis to say, she was wearing a simple afternoon gown instead of theworkaday garb in which he had been accustomed to seeing her. It wasbecoming, even at the first glance he was sure of that. 

"Good evening, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, again. "I wasn't expectingyou this evening. Is anything the matter?"

"Oh no, no! I just ran over for a minute. I--um--yes, that's all. "

He scarcely knew how to explain his errand. He had referred to it as amatter of business, but it was scarcely that. And he could not explainit at all in the presence of the guests, each one so obviously eager tohave him do so. 

"I just ran in, " he repeated. She looked a little puzzled, and it seemedto him that she hesitated, momentarily. Then--

"Won't you come into the parlor?" she asked. Was it the captain'simagination, or did Elvira and Susanna and Desire and the rest--exceptAurora, of course, who had not heard--cast significant looks at eachother? It seemed to him that they did, but why? A moment later heunderstood. 

"Come right in, Cap'n, " she urged. "George is here, but you know him, ofcourse. "

They had walked the length of the hall and were almost at the door whenshe made this announcement. He paused. 

"George?" he repeated. 

"Why, yes, George Kent. But that doesn't make a bit of difference. Comein. "

"But, Miss Elizabeth, I didn't realize you had company. I----"

"No, no. Stop, Cap'n Kendrick. George isn't company. He is--just George. Come in. "

So he went in and George Kent, tall and boyish and good looking, rose toshake hands. He appeared very much at home in that parlor, more so thanSears Kendrick did just then. The latter knew young Kent well, ofcourse, had met him first at Sarah Macomber's and had, during his slowconvalescence there, learned to like him. They had not seen much of eachother since the captain became Judah Cahoon's lodger, although Kent haddropped in once for a short call. 

But Sears had not expected to find him there, that evening, in the bestparlor of the Fair Harbor. There was every reason why he should haveexpected it. Judah had told him that George was a regular visitor andhad more than hinted at the reason. But, in the whirl of interestcaused by his acceptance of his new position and the added interest ofhis daily labors with Elizabeth, the captain had forgotten abouteverything and every one else, Kent included. 

But there he was, young, broad-shouldered, handsome, optimistic, buoyant. And there, too, was Elizabeth, also young, and pretty and gaylychatty and vivacious. And there, too, was he, Sears Kendrick, no longeryoung, even in the actual count of years, and feeling at least twicethat count--there he was, a cripple, a derelict. 

His call was very brief. The contrast between himself and those twoyoung people was too great, and, to him, at least, too painful. He didnot, of course, mention the errand which had brought him there. He couldtell Elizabeth the facts concerning the payment of his wages at someother time. He gave some more or less plausible reason for his runningin, and, at the end of fifteen minutes or so, ran out. Kent shook handswith him at parting and declared that he was going to call at the Minotplace at an early date. 

"We've all missed you there at the Macombers', Cap'n, " he said. "Yoursister says it doesn't seem like the same place. And I agree with her, it doesn't. I'm coming to see you within a day or two, sure. May I?"

Sears said of course he might, and tried to make his tone cordial, butthe attempt was not too successful. Elizabeth accompanied him to theside door. This meant a return trip through the back sitting room, where, judging by the groans of the melodeon and the accompanying vocalwails, the "sing" had been under way for some minutes. But, when CaptainSears and Miss Berry entered the room, there was absolute silence. Something had stopped the sing, had stopped it completely and judging bythe facial expressions of the majority of those present, painfully. 

Miss Snowden sat erect in her chair, frigidly, icily, disgustedly erect. Beside her Mrs. Brackett sat, scorn and mental nausea plain upon hercountenance. Every one looked angry and disgusted except Mrs. Chase, whowas eagerly whispering questions to her next neighbor, and Mrs. Tidditt, who was grinning broadly. 

Elizabeth looked in astonishment at the group. 

"Why what is it?" she asked. "What is the matter?"

Several began speaking, but Miss Elvira raised a silencing hand. 

"We were having our sing, " she said. "I say 'we _were_'. We are not now, because, " her eyes turned to and dwelt upon the puzzled face of CaptainSears Kendrick, "we were interrupted. "

"Interrupted?" Elizabeth repeated the word. 

"Interrupted was what I said. And _such_ interruptions! CaptainKendrick, I presume you are not responsible for the--ahem--_manners_ ofyour--ahem--friend, or landlord, or cook or whatever he may be, butwhoever _is_ responsible for them should be. .. . But there, listen foryourself. "

Warned by the raised Snowden hand, every one, including the captain andElizabeth, listened. And, from the yard without so loud that the wordswere plainly understandable although the windows were closed and locked, came the voice of Judah Cahoon, uplifted in song. 

 "'Whisky is the life of man, Whisky, Johnny! Whisky from an old tin can, Whisky for my Johnny!

 "'I drink whisky and my wife drinks gin, Whisky, Johnny! The way we drink 'em is a sin, Whisky for my Johnny!'"

The singer paused, momentarily, and Elvira spoke. 

"Of course, " she said, "I make no comment upon the lack of commonpoliteness shown by interrupting our evening sing by such--ah--_noises_as that. But when one considers the morals of the person who choosessuch low, disgraceful----"

 "'I had a girl, her name was Lize, Whisky, Johnny! She put whisky in her pies, Whisky for my Johnny!'"

Captain Sears hobbled, as fast as his weak legs would permit, to thedoor. He flung it open. 

 "'Whisky stole my brains away, Whisky, Johnny! Just one more pull and then belay, Whisky for----'"

"Judah! _Judah!_"

"Eh? Aye, aye, Cap'n Sears. What is it?"

"Shut up!"

"Eh? Oh! Aye, aye, Cap'n. "

He swung his former skipper to the seat of the truck-wagon. The captainspoke but little during the short trip home. What he did say, however, was to the point. 

"Judah, " he ordered, "the next time you sing anywhere withinspeakin'-trumpet distance of that Fair Harbor place, don't you dare singanything but psalms. "

"Eh? But which?"

"Never mind. What in everlastin' blazes do you mean by sittin' up alofthere and bellowin' about--rum and women?"

"Hold on, now, Cap'n Sears! Ho-ld on! That wan't no rum and woman song, that was the old 'Whisky, Johnny' chantey. Why, I've heard that songaboard your own vessels mo-ore times, Cap'n Sears. Why----"

"All right. But don't let me ever hear it sung near the Fair Harboragain. If you must sing, when you're over there sing--oh, sing thedoxology. "

Judah did not speak for a minute or two. Then he stirred rebelliously. 

"What's that?" asked the captain. "What are you mumblin' about?"

"Eh? I wan't mumblin'. I was just sayin' I didn't have much time tolearn new-fangled songs, that's all. .. . Whoa, you--you walrus! Don't youknow enough to come up into the wind when you git to your moorin's?"

As his boarder took his lamp from the kitchen table, preparatory togoing to his room, Mr. Cahoon spoke again. 

"George Kent was over there, wan't he?" he observed. 

"Eh? Oh . .. Yes. "

"Um-hm. I cal-lated he would be. This is his night--one of 'em. Comestwice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays, they tell me, and then heaves in aSunday every little spell, for good measure. Gettin' to be kind ofsettled thing between them two, so all hands are cal'latin'. .. . Hey?Turnin' in already, be you, Cap'n? Well, good night. "

Sears Kendrick found it hard to fall asleep that night. He tossed andtumbled and thought and thought and thought. At intervals he cursedhimself for a fool and resolved to think no more, along those lines atleast, but to forget the foolishness and get the rest he needed. Andeach time he was snatched back from the brink of that rest by a visionof George Kent, tall, young, good-looking, vigorous, with all the world, its opportunities and rewards, before him, and of himself almost on theverge of middle age, a legless, worthless, hopeless piece of wreckage. He liked Kent, George was a fine young fellow, he had fancied him whenthey first met. Every one liked him and prophesied his success in lifeand in the legal profession. Then why in heaven's name shouldn't he calltwice a week at the Fair Harbor if he wished to? He should, of course. That was logic, but logic has so little to do with these matters, and, having arrived at the logical conclusion, Captain Sears Kendrick foundhimself still fiercely resenting that conclusion, envying young Kent hisyouth and his hopes and his future, and as stubbornly rebellious againstdestiny as at the beginning. 

Nevertheless--and he swore it more than once before that wretched nightwas over--no one but he should know of that envy and rebellion, leastof all the cause of it. From then on he would, he vowed, take especialpains to be nice to George Kent and to help or befriend him in everypossible way. 

CHAPTER VIII

It was Kent himself who put this vow to the test. He called at the Minotplace the very next evening. It was early, only seven o'clock; Judah, having begged permission to serve an early supper because it was "lodgenight, " had departed for Liberty Hall, where the local branch of the OddFellows met; and Sears Kendrick was sitting on the settee in the backyard, beneath the locust tree, smoking. Kent came swinging in at thegate and again the captain felt that twinge of envy and rebellionagainst fate as he saw the active figure come striding toward him. 

But, and doubly so because of that very twinge, his welcome was brimmingwith cordiality. Kent explained that his call must be a brief one, as hemust hurry back to his room at the Macombers' to study. It was part ofhis agreement with Eliphalet Bassett that his duties as bookkeeper atthe latter's store should end at six o'clock each night. 

Sears asked how he was getting on with his law study. He replied that heseemed to be getting on pretty well, but missed Judge Knowles' help andadvice very much indeed. 

"I read with Lawyer Bradley over at Harniss now, " he said. "Go over twoevenings a week, Mondays and Thursdays. The other evenings--most ofthem--I put in by myself, digging away at _Smith on Torts_ and _Chittyon Bills_, and stuff of that kind. I suppose that sounds like prettydull music to you, Cap'n Kendrick. "

The captain shook his head. "I don't know about the music part, " heobserved. "It's a tune I never could learn to play--or sing, either, I'msure of that. But you miss the judge's help, do you?"

"Miss it like blazes. He could do more in five minutes to make me see apoint than Bradley can in an hour. Bradley's a pretty good lawyer, asthe average run of small lawyers go, but Judge Knowles is away above theaverage. Bradley will hem and haw and 'rather think' this and 'it wouldseem as if' that, but the judge will say a hundred words, and two of 'emswear words, and there is the answer, complete, plain and demonstrated. I do like Judge Knowles. I only hope he likes me half as well. "

They discussed the judge, his illness and the pity of it. This led to abrief talk concerning Sears' hurt and his condition. Kent seemed toconsider the latter much improved. 

"Your sister says so, too, " he declared. "I heard her telling Macomberyesterday at dinner that she thought you looked and acted very much morelike a well man than when you left our house. And your legs must bebetter, too, Cap'n. I'm sure you get around easier than you did. "

The captain shrugged. "I get around, " he said, "but that's about all youcan say. Whether I'll ever. .. . But there, what's the use of talkin'about my split timbers? Tell me some of the Bayport news. Now that itseems to be settled I'm goin' to tie up here for a good while I ought toknow somethin' about my fellow citizens, hadn't I? What is goin' on?"

There was not very much going on, so Kent said. Captain Lorenzo Taylor'sship was due in New York almost any week or day now, and then thecaptain would, of course, come home for a short visit. Mrs. CaptainElkanah Wingate had a new silk dress, and, as it was the second silkgown within a year, there was much talk at sewing circle and at thestore concerning it and Captain Elkanah's money. One of Captain OrrinEldridge's children was ill with scarlet fever. The young people of theUniversalist society were going to give some amateur theatricals at theTown Hall some time in August, and the minister at the Orthodoxmeeting-house had already preached a sermon upon the sin of theatergoing. 

"There, " concluded George Kent, with another laugh. "That's about allthe local excitement, Cap'n. It won't keep you awake to-night, I hope. "

Sears smiled. "Guess I'll drop off in spite of it, " he observed. "But itis kind of interestin', too, some of it. Hope Cap'n Lorenzo makes a goodvoyage home. He's in the _Belle of the Ocean_, isn't he? Um-hm. Well, she's a good able vessel and Lorenzo's a great hand to carry sail, so, give him good weather, he'll bring her home flyin'. So the Universalistshave been behavin' scandalous, have they? Dear, dear! But what can youexpect of folks so wicked they don't believe in hell? Humph! I mustn'ttalk that way. I forgot that you were a Universalist yourself, George. "

Kent smiled. "Oh, I'm as wicked as anybody you can think of, " hedeclared. "Why, I'm going to take a part in those amateur theatricals, myself. "

"Are you? My, my! You'll be goin' to dancin'-school next, and then you_will_ be bound for that place you don't believe in. When is this showof yours comin' off? I'd like to see it, and shall, if Judah and theFoam Flake will undertake to get me to the Town Hall and back. "

"I think we'll give it the second week in August. We had a greatargument trying to pick a play. For a long time we were undecidedbetween 'Sylvia's Soldier' or 'Down by the Sea' or 'Among the Breakers. 'At last we decided on 'Down by the Sea. ' It's quite new, been out onlyfour or five years, and it rather fits our company. Did you ever see it, Cap'n?"

"No, I never did. I've been out _on_ the sea so much in my life thatwhen I got ashore I generally picked out the shows that hadn't anythingto do with it--'Hamlet, ' or 'Lydia Thompson's British Blondes, ' orsomethin' like that, " with a wink. Then he added, more soberly, "The oldsalt water looks mighty good to me now, though. Strange how you don'twant a thing you can have and long for it when you can't. .. . But I'm notsupposed to preach a sermon, at least I haven't heard anybody ask me to. What's your part in this--what d'ye call it?--'Out on the Beach, 'George?"

"'Down by the Sea. ' Oh, I'm 'March Gale, ' and when I was a baby I wascast ashore from a wreck. "

"Humph! When you were a baby. Started your seafarin' early, I shouldsay. Who else is in it?"

"Oh, Frank Crosby, he is 'Sept Gale, ' my brother--only he isn't mybrother. And John Carleton--the schoolteacher, you know--he is'Raymond, ' the city man; he's good, too. And Sam Ryder, and ErastusSnow. There was one part--'John Gale, ' an old fisherman chap, wecouldn't seem to think of any one who could, or would, play it. But atlast we did, and who do you think it was? Joel Macomber, your sister'shusband. "

"What? Joel Macomber--on the stage! Oh, come now, George!"

"It's a fact. And he's good, too. Some one told one of us that Macomberhad done some amateur acting when he was young, and, in desperation, weasked him to try this part. And he is good. You would be surprised, Cap'n Kendrick. "

"Um-hm, I am now. I certainly am. What sort of a part is it Joel's got?What does this--er--Gale do; anything but blow?"

"Why--why, he doesn't really do much, that's a fact. He is supposed tobe a fisherman, as I said, but--well, about all he does in the play isto come on and off and talk a good deal, and scold at Frank and me--hissons, you know--and fuss at his wife and----"

Captain Sears held up his hand. 

"That's enough, George, " he interrupted. "That'll do. Don't do much ofanything, talks a lot, and finds fault with other folks. No wonder JoelMacomber can act that part. He ought to be as natural as life in it. Aren't there any womenfolks in this play, though? I don't see how muchcould happen without them aboard. "

"Oh, yes, of course there are women. Three of them. Mrs. Cora Bassett, Eliphalet's brother's wife, she is 'Mrs. Gale, ' my mother, only sheturns out not to be; and Fannie Wingate, she is the rich city girl; andElizabeth. That makes the three. "

"Yes, yes, so it does. But which Elizabeth are you talkin' about?"

"Why, Elizabeth Berry. My--our Elizabeth, over here at the Fair Harbor. "

The quick change from "my" to "our" was so quick as to be almostimperceptible, but the captain noticed it. He looked up and Kent, catching his eye, colored slightly. Sears noticed the color, also, buthis tone, when he spoke, was quite casual. 

"Oh, " he said. "So Elizabeth's in it, too, is she? Well, well! What partdoes she take?"

"She's 'Kitty Gale, ' my sweetheart. "

"You don't say. She's good, I'll bet. "

"Wonderful!" Kent's enthusiasm was unrestrained. "You wouldn't believeany untrained girl could act as she does. She might have been born forthe part, honestly she might. "

"Um-hm. .. . Well, maybe she was. "

"Eh? I beg your pardon. "

"Nothin', nothin'. I'll have to see that play, even if the Foam Flakefounders and Judah has to carry me there pig-back. And how are yougettin' on in it yourself? You haven't told me that. "

"Oh, I'm doing well enough. Trying hard, at least. But, Cap'n Sears, youshould see Elizabeth. She is splendid. But she is a wonderful girl, anyway. Don't you think she is?"

"Yes. "

"You couldn't help thinking so. No one could. Why----"

The remainder of the conversation was, for the most part, a chant, sungas a solo by George Kent, and having as its subject, the wonders of MissBerry. Captain Sears joined occasionally in the chorus, and smiledcordial and complete agreement. His caller was charmed. 

"I've had a bully good time, Cap'n, " he declared, at parting. "I cameintending to stay only a few minutes and I've been here an hour and ahalf. You are one of the most interesting talkers I ever heard in mylife, if you don't mind my saying so. "

Sears, whose contributions to the latter half of the conversation hadbeen about one word in twenty, laughed. "I'm afraid you haven't heardmany good talkers, " he said. 

"Oh, yes, I have. But there are precious few of them in this town. Itdoes a fellow good to know a man like you, who has been everywhere andmet so many people and done so many things worth while. And, you and Iagree so on almost every point. I don't know whether you noticed it ornot, but our opinions seemed so exactly alike. It's remarkable, I think. I like you, Cap'n Kendrick; you don't mind my saying so, do you?"

"Oh, not a bit, not a bit. Glad of it, of course. "

"Yes. I liked you down there at your sister's, but you were so sick Ididn't have the chance to know you as well as I wanted to. But I hadseen enough of you to know I should like you a lot when I knew youbetter. And Elizabeth, she was sure I would. "

"Oh, she was, eh?"

"Yes. Oh, yes. She likes you very much. We talk about you almost everytime I call--I mean when we are together, you know. Well, good-by. I'mcoming for another talk--and soon, too. May I?"

"Hope you do, son. Come aboard any day. The gangplank is always down foryou. "

Which was all right, except that as Sears watched his caller swingingbuoyantly to the gate, the same unreasonable twinge came back to him, bringing with it the keen sense of depression and discouragement, therealization of his approaching middle age and his crippled condition. Itdid not last long, he would not permit it to linger, but it was acutewhile it lasted. 

He heard a great deal concerning the approaching production of "Down bythe Sea" as the weeks passed and the time for that production drewnearer. As he and Elizabeth worked and took counsel together concerningthe affairs of the Fair Harbor they spoke of it. She was enjoying therehearsals hugely and the captain gathered that they furnished theopportunity for change of thought and relaxation which she had greatlyneeded. They spoke of George Kent, also; Sears saw to that. He broughtthe young man's name into their conversation at frequent intervals andtook pains to praise him highly and to declare repeatedly his liking forhim. All part of his own self-imposed penance, of course. And Elizabethseemed to enjoy these conversations and agreed with him that George was"a nice boy" and likely to succeed in life. 

"I'm so glad you like him, Cap'n Kendrick, " she said. "He likes you somuch and is so sure that you are a wise man. "

Sears turned to look at her. 

"Sure that I'm what?" he demanded. 

"A wise man. He says that, next to Judge Knowles, he had rather haveyour opinion than any one else in Bayport. "

The captain shook his head. "Dear, dear!" he sighed. "And just as I hadcome to the conclusion that George was so smart. Me a wise man? _Me!_Tut, tut! George, you disappoint me. "

But she would not be turned aside in that way. 

"There is no reason for disappointment that I can see, " she said. "Ithink he is quite right. You _are_ a wise man, Cap'n Kendrick. Of courseI know you must be or Judge Knowles would not have selected you to takecharge here. But since you and I have been working together I have foundit out for myself. In fact I don't see how we ever got along--mother andI--before you came. And we didn't get on very well, that is a fact, " sheadded, with a rueful smile. 

"Rubbish! You got on wonderfully. And as for the worth of myopinions--well, you ask Northern Lights what she thinks of 'em. She'lltell you, I'll bet. "

"Northern Lights" was Captain Sears's pet name for Mrs. Aurora Chase. Elizabeth asked why Aurora should hold his opinions lightly. The captainchuckled. 

"Well, " he explained, "she asked me yesterday what I thought of theOrthodox minister's sermons about the Universalist folks play-actin'. Isaid I hadn't heard 'em first hand, but that I understood they were hot. I thought she sailed off with her nose pretty well aloft, but I couldn'tsee why. To-day Esther Tidditt told me that she had understood me to saythe sermons were 'rot. ' That's what comes of bein' hard of hearin'. Ho, ho! But truth will out, won't it?"

The afternoon preceding the evening when "Down by the Sea" was to bepublicly presented upon the stage of the town hall was overcast andcloudy. Judah, with one eye upon the barometer swinging in its gimbalsin the General Minot front entry, had gloomily prophesied rain. CaptainSears, although inwardly agreeing with the prophecy, outwardlymaintained an obstinate optimism. 

"I don't care if the glass is down so low that the mercury sticks out ofthe bottom and hits the deck, " he declared. "It isn't goin' to rainto-night, Judah. You mark my words. "

"I'm a-markin' 'em, Cap'n Sears. I'm a-markin' of 'em. But what's theuse of words alongside of a fallin' glass like that? And, besides, ain'tI been watchin' the sky all the afternoon? Look how it's smurrin' upover to the west'ard. Look at them mare's tails streakin' out up aloft. 

 'Mack'rel skies and mares' tails Make lofty ships to douse their sails. '

You know that's well's I do, Cap'n Sears. "

"Yes, yes, so I do, Judah. But do you know this one?

 'Hi, diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. '

What have you got to say to that, eh?"

Judah stared at him. His chin quivered. 

"Wh--wh--" he stammered. "What have I got to say to that? Why, I ain'tgot nawthin' to say to it. There ain't no sense to it. That's MotherGoose talk, that's all that is, What's that got to do with theweather?"

"It would have somethin' to do with it if a cow jumped over the moon, wouldn't it?"

"Eh? But---- Oh, creepin' prophets, Cap'n Sears, what's the use of youand me wastin' our breath over such foolishness? You're just bein'funny, that's all. " His expression changed, and he smiled broadly. "Why, by Henry, " he declared, "I ain't heard you talk that way afore since youshipped aboard this General Minot craft along of me. That's the way youused to poke fun at me aboard the old _Wild Ranger_ when we was makin'port after a good v'yage. What's happened to spruce you up so? Doctorain't told you any special good news about them legs of yours, has he, Cap'n? Limpin' Moses, I wisht that was it. "

Sears shook his head. "No, Judah, " he replied. "No such luck as that. It's just my natural foolishness, I guess. And I'm goin' to the theaterto-night, too, all by myself. Think of it. Do you wonder I feel like aboy in his first pair of long trousers?"

Mr. Cahoon's whisker-framed face expressed doubt and foreboding. "Iain't sure yit that I'm doin' right in lettin' you pilot yourself downto that town hall, " he declared. "It ain't that I'm scart of the horserunnin' away, or nothin' like that, you understand, but----"

His lodger burst into a roar of laughter. 

"Runnin' away!" he repeated. "Judah, foam flakes drift away pretty oftenand sometimes they blow away, but I never saw one run away yet. And ifthis Foam Flake of yours ever started to run I should die of surprisebefore anything else could happen to me. Don't worry about me. You'll behere to help me aboard the buggy, when I'm ready to leave port, andthere'll be plenty of folks at the hall to help me out of it when I getthere. So I'll be all right and to spare. "

"Um--well, maybe so. But it seems to me like takin' risks just the same. Now, Cap'n Sears, why don't you let me drive you down, same as I alwaysdo drive you? What makes you so sot on goin' alone?"

The captain did not answer for a moment. Then he said, "Judah, for agood many long weeks--yes, and months--I've been havin' somebody driveme or steer me or order me. To-night, by the Lord A'mighty, _I'm_ goin'to drive and give my own orders. "

"But the doctor----"

"The doctor doesn't know. And if you tell him I'll--well, you'll needhim, that's all. Every dog has its day, Judah, and this is my night. "

"But it's goin' to rain and----"

"It isn't. .. . And, if it does, haven't you and I seen enough water notto be afraid of it?"

"Salt water--yes; but----"

"There aren't any buts. That'll do, Judah. Go for'ard. " So Mr. Cahoon, obeying orders, went for'ard; that is, he went into the kitchen, andSears Kendrick was left upon the seat beneath the locust tree to smokeand cast rebellious glances at the deepening gloom of the sky. He hadnot been entirely truthful in his replies to his landlord's questions. Although he scarcely dared admit it, even to himself, his damaged legswere better than they had been. Doctor Sheldon told him that they wereand seemed more hopeful after each examination. And he knew that thedoctor's hope was not mere pretending, something assumed but not felt. Yes, he knew it. And, for the first time since the accident whichwrecked the Old Colony train and his own life, he began to think that, perhaps--some day, perhaps--he might again be a man, a whole, able-bodied man among men. When he submitted this thought to the coldlight of reason, it was transparent and faint enough, but it was there, and it was one cause of his high spirits. 

And there was another, a cause which was even less worthy ofreason--which was perfectly childish and absurd but not the less real onthat account. It was connected with his stubborn determination to be hisown pilot to the hall that evening. He had, when he first determined torisk the trip in that way, refused to permit Judah to accompany himbecause he knew, if he did, that the latter would be a sort of safetyvalve, a life preserver--to mix similes--the real driver who would beon hand to take charge if necessary. Under such circumstances his ownresponsibility ceased to be a responsibility and his self-reliance_nil_. No, sink or swim, survive or perish, he would make the voyagealone. 

So, although there was plenty of room on the buggy seat, he stubbornlyrefused to permit Judah to sit there. Mr. Cahoon was going to the play, of course--the entire constabulary force of Ostable County could nothave prevented his doing so--but he was to walk, not ride behind theFoam Flake. And Captain Sears Kendrick was supposed to be riding alone. 

Yet he was not to ride alone, although only one person, and that notJudah Cahoon, knew of that fact. The day before, while he and Miss Berrywere busy, as usual, with the finances and managerial duties of the FairHarbor, she had happened to mention that there were some stageproperties, bits of costumes, and the like, which must be gotten earlyto the hall on the evening of the performance and he had offered to haveJudah deliver them for her. Now he told her of his intention of drivingthe Foam Flake unassisted and that he would deliver them himself. 

"Or any other light dunnage you might want taken down there, " he added. "Glad to, no trouble at all. "

She looked at him rather oddly he thought. 

"You are going all alone?" she asked. 

"Um-hm. All alone. I'm goin' to have my own way this time in spite ofthe Old Harry--and the doctor--and Judah. "

"And you are sure there will be plenty of room?"

"What? With only me in the buggy? Yes, indeed. Room enough for two seachests and a pork barrel, as old Cap'n Bangs Paine used to say when Isailed with him. Room and to spare. "

"Room enough for--me?"

"For you? Why, do you mean----"

"I mean that if there _is_ room I should like to ride down with you verymuch. I want to get to the hall early and I have these things to carry. Mother and the rest of the Harbor people are going later, of course. .. . So, if you are sure that I and my bundles won't be nuisances----"

He was sure, emphatically and enthusiastically sure. But his surprisewas great and he voiced it involuntarily. 

"I supposed, of course, " he said, "that your passage was booked longago. I supposed George had attended to that. "

Her answer was brief, but there was an air of finality about it whichheaded off further questions. 

"I am not going with him, " she said. 

So this was his second cause for good spirits, the fact that ElizabethBerry was to ride with him to the hall that evening. It was a veryslight inconsequential reason surely, but somehow he found itsufficient. She was going with him merely because he and the Foam Flakeand the buggy furnished the most convenient method of transportation forher and her packages, but she was going--and she was not going withGeorge Kent. There was a certain wicked pleasure in the last thought. Hewas ashamed of it, but the pleasure was there in spite of the shame. Kent had so much that he had not, but here was one little grain ofadvantage to enter upon the Kendrick side of the ledger; Elizabeth Berrywas not going to the town hall with Kent, but with him. 

He made but one protest and that only because his conscience goaded himinto making it. 

"I don't know as I ought to let you, Miss Elizabeth, " he said. "I'mtakin' a chance, I suppose, that perhaps you shouldn't take. This is myfirst voyage under my own command since I ran on the rocks. I may strikeanother reef, you can't tell. "

She looked at him and smiled. 

"I am not afraid, " she said. 

So, in spite of the gathering clouds and the falling barometer, CaptainSears was cheerful as he smoked beneath the locust tree. After a time herose and limped down to the gate. Doctor Sheldon's equipage was standingby the Knowles hitching post just beyond across the road. The doctorhimself came out of the house and the captain hailed him. 

"How is the judge?" he asked. Doctor Sheldon shook his head. 

"No better, " he replied. "He is weaker every day and last week he had anattack that was so severe I was afraid it was the end. He weathered it, though. "

"Why, yes. I saw him on Sunday and he was as full of jokes and spunk asever, seemed to me. His voice wasn't quite as strong, that's all. He isa great man, Judge Knowles. Bayport will miss him tremendously when hegoes. So shall I, for that matter, and I haven't known him very long. "

"We'll all miss him. "

"There isn't a chance, I suppose? In the long run----"

The doctor's look caused him to stop the sentence in the middle. 

"There isn't any question of long runs, " said Sheldon, gravely. "Thenext one of these seizures will end it. He has been a great fighter andhe never gives up; that is why he is here. But the fight is practicallyover. The next attack will be the last. "

Sears was deeply concerned. "Dear, dear, " he said. "I didn't realize itwas quite so bad. And that attack may come--next month, or even nextweek, I presume likely?"

"Yes. "

The captain's good spirits were dashed for the time. His regard andadmiration for the old judge had grown steadily during their briefacquaintance. He pictured the rugged, determined face as he had seen itSunday, and heard again the voice, weak but drily humorous orindomitably pugnacious. It did not seem as if a spirit like that couldbe so near surrender. Doctor Sheldon must be over apprehensive. 

It was but seven o'clock when he drove the Foam Flake up to the sidedoor of the Fair Harbor and his passenger stowed her various bundlesabout his feet in the bottom of the buggy and then climbed in herself. The drive to the town hall was made in good time, the Foam Flakeconsidered, and--to the captain at any rate--it was a most pleasantexcursion. There was the unaccustomed sensation of once more being freefrom orders or domination. 

There was little conversation during the drive. Sears attempted it, buthis passenger was not talkative. She seemed to be thinking of somethingelse and her answers were brief and absent-minded. Nevertheless SearsKendrick enjoyed their drive and was almost sorry when the Foam Flakehalted, snorting, or sneezing, violently, by the hall platform. Thebuilding was as yet but dimly lighted and Asaph Tidditt, the janitor, was the only person about. Asaph, hearing the Foam Flake's sneeze, cameto the door. 

"Well, I swan!" he exclaimed. "Is that you, 'Liz'beth? You're good andearly, ain't you? Evenin', George. Why, 'tain't George. Who is it? Well, well, well, Cap'n Sears, this _is_ a surprise!"

He helped the captain from the buggy and, at Sears' request, led theFoam Flake around the corner to the hitching rail. When he returned MissBerry had gone upstairs to the dressing-room to leave her packages. Asaph was still surprised. 

"Mighty glad to see you out again, Cap'n, " he declared. "I heard you wasbetter, but I didn't hardly cal'late to see you takin' your girl to rideso soon. Hey? He, he, he!"

Sears-laughed long enough to seem polite. Asaph laughed longer. 

"And 'tain't _your_ girl you're takin' nuther, is it?" he said. "When Ilooked in that buggy just now I don't know when I've been more sot back. 'Evenin', George, ' says I. And 'twan't George Kent at all, 'twas you. Ain't been to work and cut George out, have you, Cap'n Sears? He, he, he! That's another good one, ain't it!"

The captain smiled--more politeness--and inquired if he and Miss Berrywere the first ones at the hall. 

"Is any one else here?" he asked. 

"Yus, " said Mr. Tidditt. 

"Who?"

"Me. He, he, he! Kind of caught you that time, didn't I, Cap'n? Wasn'texpectin' that, was you? Except me, you and 'Liz'beth's the fust ones. Be plenty more in half an hour, though. 'Bout all hands in Bayport'scomin' to this time, everybody but the Orthodox and the Methodists andthe Come-Outers. They cal'late goin' to a play-actin' time is same asgoin' to Tophet. I tell 'em I'd ruther go to the show, 'cause I'd have alittle fun out of it, and from what I hear there ain't much fun int'other place. He, he, he! But say, how'd it happen George Kent ever let'Liz'beth Berry go anywheres without him? Where _is_ George?"

Sears was rather glad when the arrival of Sam Ryder and Carleton, twoother members of the cast of "Down by the Sea" attracted the attentionof the garrulous Asaph and led the latter, in their company, upstairs. Amoment or so later another figure approached from the blackness to thecircle of light cast by the big ship's lantern over the hall door. 

"Why, hello, George!" hailed Sears. 

Young Kent looked up, recognized the speaker and said "Good evening. " Hedid not seem surprised as Mr. Tidditt had been to find the captainthere. The latter remarked upon it. 

"Why, George, " he observed, "I must say you take my bein' here all alonepretty calmly. Ase Tidditt all but capsized when he saw me bring theFoam Flake into dock. "

Kent nodded. "I knew you were here, " he said. "Elizabeth came down withyou, I suppose. "

"Why, yes. Did she tell you she was goin' to risk life and limb aboardmy vessel?"

"No, " briefly. 

"Oh. Then how did you know?"

"I stopped at the Harbor. Her mother said she had gone with you. .. . Where is she; upstairs?"

"Up in the dressin' room, I guess. She had to come so early becausethere were things to bring and some work for her to do before you andthe others got here, she said. "

"What? Did she say before _I_ got here?"

"Eh? Why, no, didn't mention you in particular. She just said----"

Kent interrupted. "I see, " he said, shortly. "All right, never mind. "

He was walking toward the other end of the platform. His manner was sovery peculiar that Sears could not help noticing it. He looked after himin perplexity. 

"Here . .. George!" he called. 

Kent turned and came back, rather reluctantly it seemed. The older manlooked at him keenly. 

"George, " he asked, "what's the matter with you?"

"Matter? With me?"

"Yes, with you. You're short as Aunt Nabby's pie crust. Have I doneanything you don't like? If I have I'll apologize before I know what itis. It wasn't done on purpose, you can be sure of that. "

Kent started, colored, and was much perturbed. "I didn't realize I wasshort, Cap'n Kendrick, " he declared. "I beg your pardon. I am mightysorry. No--no, of course you haven't done anything I don't like. I don'tbelieve you could. "

"You never can tell. But so far I haven't tried. Not sick, are you?"

"No . .. I'm just--oh, nothing. I'm in a little trouble, that's all. Myown fault, maybe, I don't know. "

"Probably it is. Most of our troubles are our own fault, in one way oranother. Well, if there's anything I can do to help out, just give me ahail. "

"Thanks. But I'm afraid there isn't. "

He turned and walked down the platform once more. Mrs. Captain OrrinEldridge, who was to sell tickets, came, and, after greeting the captaincordially, went in to open and light the ticket-office at the foot ofthe stairs. Two more members of the cast, Erastus Snow and Mrs. Bassett, arrived and went up to prepare. Suddenly Kent, who had been standing atthe farther end of the platform, came back. 

"Captain Kendrick, " he said, "would you mind answering a question?"

"Eh? Why, not a bit, George. But perhaps yours may be one of thosequestions I can't answer. "

"I think you can. Say--er--Cap'n Kendrick----"

"Yes, George. "

"You see, I. .. . This sounds awfully foolish, but--but I don't know whatI ought to do. "

"Um-hm. Well, a good many of us get that way every once in a while. "

"Do you?"

"You bet!"

"Humph! Somehow you seem to me like a man who would know exactly what todo at any time. "

"Yes? Well, my looks must belie me. Heave ahead, George. The folks arebeginning to come. "

"Well, I---- Oh, hang it, Cap'n, when you've made a mistake--donesomething that you didn't think was wrong--that wasn't wrong, really--and--and. .. . Say, I'm making an awful mess of this. And it'ssuch a fool thing, anyhow. "

"Um-hm. So many things are. Chuck it overboard, George; that is, if youreally want to ask me about it. "

"I do. That is, I want to ask you this: Suppose you had done somethingthat you thought was all right and--and somebody else had thought waswrong--would you--would you go and tell that other person that you_were_ wrong? Even if you weren't, you know. "

Kendrick was silent. The question was ridiculous enough, but he did notlaugh, nor feel like laughing. Nor did he want to answer. 

"Oh, I know that it's a child's question, " put in Kent, disgustedly. "Never mind answering. I am a child sometimes, feel like one, anyhow. And I've got to fight this out with myself, I suppose, so what's theuse?"

He turned on his heel, but the captain laid a hand on his shoulder. 

"George, " he said, slowly, "of course, the way you put this thing makesit pretty foggy navigatin' for a stranger; but--humph!--well, in casessomethin' like yours, when I've cared anything about the--er--friendshipof the other fellow, I've generally found 'twas good business to go andsay I was sorry first, and then, if 'twas worth while, argue the pointof who was right or wrong later. You never can do much fishin' throughthe ice unless somebody chops the hole. "

The young man was silent. He seemed to be reflecting and to find hisreflections not too pleasant. Before they were at an end the first groupof townspeople came up the steps. Some of them paused to greet Kendrickand at their heels was another group. The captain was chatting with themwhen he heard Kent's voice at his ear. 

"Excuse me, Cap'n, " he whispered. "I'll see you by and by. I'm going tochop the ice. "

"Eh?. .. Oh, all right, George. Good luck. "

George hurried up the stairs. A minute or two later Captain Sears slowlylimped after him and sought a secluded corner on one of the settees atthe rear of the hall. There was still a full half hour before the risingof the curtain, and as yet there was but a handful of people present. Heturned his face away from the handful and hoped that he might not berecognized. He did not feel like talking. His good spirits had left him. He was blue and despondent and discouraged. And for no reason--that wasthe worst of it--no earthly, sensible, worth while reason at all. 

Those two children--that is what they were, children--had quarreled andthat was why Elizabeth had asked to ride to the hall with him thatevening. It was not because she cared for his company; of course he knewthat all the time, or would have known it if he permitted himself toreason. She had gone with him because she had quarreled with George. Andthat young idiot's conscience had troubled him and, thanks to hisown--Kendrick's--advice, he had gone to her now to beg pardon and makeup. And they would make up. Children, both of them. 

And they ought to make up; they should, of course. He wanted them to doso. What sort of a yellow dog in the manger would he be if he did not?He liked them both, and they were young and well--and he was--what thatrailway accident had made of him. 

The audience poured in, the settees filled, the little boys down infront kicked the rounds, and pinched each other and giggled. Mr. AsaphTidditt importantly strode down the aisle and turned up the wicks of thekerosene foot-lamps. Mrs. Sophronia Eldridge, Captain Orrin'ssister-in-law, seated herself at the piano and played the accompanimentswhile Mrs. Mary Pashy Foster imparted the information that she could notsing the old songs now. When she had finished, most people were inclinedto believe her. The delegation from the Fair Harbor, led by Mrs. Berryand Elvira Snowden, arrived in a body. The Universalist minister and hiswife came, and looked remarkably calm for a couple leading a flock offellow humans to perdition. Captain Elkanah Wingate and Mrs. Wingatecame last of all and marched majestically to the seats reserved for themby the obsequious Mr. Tidditt. The hall lights were dimmed. The curtainrose. And George Kent, very handsome and manly as "March Gale, " was seenand heard, singing:

 "Oh, my name was Captain Kidd As I sailed, as I sailed. "

And these were the opening lines of the play, "Down by the Sea. "

That performance was a great success, everybody said so. Mr. Tiddittexpressed the general opinion when he declared that all hands done aboutas fine as the rest but some of 'em done finer. John Carleton, theschoolteacher, shone with particular brilliancy as he delivered himselfof such natural, everyday speeches as: "I have dispatched a messenger totown with the glad tidings, " or "We will leave this barren spot and hieto the gay scenes of city life. " And Frank Crosby, as "September Gale, "the noble young fisherman, tossed the English language about as a realgale might toss what he would have called "a cockle shell, " as hedeclared, "With a true heart and a stout arm, who cares for danger?. .. To be upon the sea when the winds are roaring and the waves are seethingin anger; . .. To have a light bark obedient to your command, braving thefury of the tempest. .. . " Bayport was fairly well acquainted withfishermen, numbering at least thirty among its inhabitants, but no oneof the thirty could talk like that. 

Sam Ryder's performance of "Captain Dandelion, " the city exquisite, was, so the next issue of the _Item_ said, "remarkable"; there is littledoubt that the _Item_ selected the right word. Joel Macomber was good, when he remembered his lines; Miss Wingate was very elegant as "a citybelle"; Mrs. Bassett made a competent fisherman's wife. But everybodydeclared that Elizabeth Berry and George Kent, as "Kitty Gale" and"March Gale, " were the two brightest stars in that night's firmament. 

Captain Kendrick, between the acts, could hear whispered comments allabout him. "Isn't Elizabeth fine!" "Don't they do well!" "Ain't she agood-lookin' girl, now--eh?" "Yes, and, my soul and body, if that GeorgeKent ain't a match for her then _I_ don't know!" "Oh, don't they make alovely couple!" And, from a seat two rows in front, the penetratingvoice of Mrs. Noah Baker made proclamations: "Lovers on the stage andoff the stage, too, I guess. Ha, ha!" And there was a general buzz ofagreement and many pleased titters. 

Sears tried very hard to enjoy the performance, but his thoughts wouldwander. And, when the final curtain fell and the applause subsided, herose to hobble to the door, glad that the evening was over. 

He was one of the last to reach the landing and, at the top of thestairs, Judah met him. Mr. Cahoon's manner was a combination of dismayand triumph. 

"Oh, there you be, Cap'n Sears, " he exclaimed. "Well, I told you! Youcan't say I never, that's one comfort. "

"Told me what, Judah?"

"That 'twas goin' to rain. I told you the glass was fallin'. It's apourin'-down rainstorm now, that's what 'tis. "

Judah, his faith rooted in the prophecy of the falling barometer, hadcome to the hall with oilskins upon his arm. Now he was arrayed in themand weather-proof. 

"I'll fetch the Foam Flake around to the platform, Cap'n, " he said. "You'll want to wait for 'Liz'beth, I presume likely, so take your timenavigatin' them stairs. No, no, I'll walk. I won't get wet. _I_ knewwhat was comin'. Aye, aye, sir. I'll fetch the horse. Cal'late thecritter has gnawed off and swallowed two fathoms of fence by this time. "

The Foam Flake and the buggy were made fast by the platform when Searsreached that point. It was raining hard. The greater part of theaudience had already started on their homeward journey, but a few stilllingered, some lamenting the absence of umbrellas and rubbers, othersawaiting the arrival of messengers who had been sent home to procurethose protections. The captain, of course, was awaiting Elizabeth, andshe having to change costume and get rid of make-up, he knew his waitwas likely to be rather lengthy. He did not mind that so much, but hedid not desire to talk or be talked to, so he walked to the dark end ofthe platform--the same end, by the way, where George Kent had stood whenpondering his problem before asking advice--and stood there, staringinto the splashy blackness. 

The last group left the lighted portals of the hall and startedhomeward, exclamations and little screams denoting spots where progresshad been delayed by puddles or mud holes. Mrs. Eldridge, in the ticketoffice, packed up her takings, pennies and "shin-plasters, " in apasteboard box and departed for home. Mr. Tidditt accompanying her asguard and umbrella holder. 

"I'll be back to lock up, Cap'n Sears, " called Asaph, reassuringly. "Stay right where you be. You won't be in my way at all. "

For some minutes longer Sears stood there alone on the platform, facingthe dismal darkness and his own dismal thoughts. They were dismal, andno less so because his common-sense kept prodding him with the certaintythat there was no more reason for discouragement now than there had beentwo hours before. The obvious offset to this was the equal certaintythat there had been no more reason for optimism two hours before than atpresent. So he stared into the darkness, listened to the splashingwaterspouts, and, for the millionth time at least, eternally condemnedthe Old Colony railroad and his luck. 

A springy, buoyant step came down the stairs. A voice called from thedoorway:

"Cap'n Kendrick! Cap'n, are you there?"

Sears turned. 

"Right here, George, " he said. 

Kent hastened toward him. His hand was outstretched and his face wasbeaming. 

"It worked, " he exclaimed, eagerly. "It worked in great shape. Cap'n, you're a brick. "

His friend did not, momentarily, catch his meaning. 

"Glad you think so, George, " he said; "but why are you so sure of itjust now?"

"Why, because if it hadn't been for you I should have, more than likely, not tried to chop the ice at all. "

"Chop the---- Oh, yes, yes; I remember. So you and Elizabeth have madeup, eh?"

"Yes, I. .. . How on earth did you know she was the one? I didn't tellyou, did I?"

"No. It's just another proof of my tremendous wisdom. Well, I'm glad, George. "

"I knew you would be. Mind you, I'm not sure yet I was wrong, but I----Good Lord, look at the rain! I had no idea!. .. Well, at any rate, Elizabeth will be all right. She's going with you in the buggy. "

There was a slight, a very slight note of regret, almost of envy, in theyoung fellow's tone. The captain noticed it. 

"No, she isn't, George, " he said, quietly. 

"What! She isn't?"

"No, she's goin' with you. You take the horse and buggy and drive her upto the Harbor. Then you can send Judah back with it after me, if youwill. "

"But, Cap'n, I wouldn't think of it. Why----"

"No need to think. Do it. Look here, George, you know perfectly well youhaven't finished that ice-choppin' business. There are lots of thingsyou want to tell her yet, I know. Come now, aren't there?"

Kent hesitated. "Why--why, yes, I suppose there are, " he admitted. "Butit seems mean to take advantage of you, you know. To leave you standinghere and waiting while she and I----"

"That's all right. I'm better fitted for waiting than I am for anythingelse nowadays. Don't argue any more. She'll be here in a minute. "

"Well . .. Well. You're sure you don't mind, really?"

"Not a bit. And she'd rather ride with you, of course. "

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. Of course she did tell me she came with youbecause I--because we had that--that little row--and---- But she likesyou, Cap'n. Honest, she does, a lot. By George, nobody could help likingyou, you know. "

Sears' smile was gray, but his companion did not notice. He was too fullof his own happiness. 

"I'll run up and tell her, " he said. "It's mighty good of you, Cap'nKendrick. Sure you don't care? You _are_ a brick. "

He hastened up the stairs. Sears was left once more with the blackwetness to look at. It looked blacker than ever. 

Elizabeth, accompanied by George, came down soon afterward. She wasstill protesting. 

"Really, I don't think this is right at all, Cap'n Kendrick, " shedeclared. "Why should you wait here? If you insist upon George's goingin the buggy, why don't you come too? I'm sure there will be roomenough. Won't there, George?"

Kent said, "Yes, of course, " but there might have been more enthusiasmin his tone. Sears spoke next. 

"I can't go now, " he lied, calmly. "I want to see Ase Tidditt and he'sgone to see Cap'n Orrin's wife home. Won't be back for twenty minutes orso. No, no, you and George heave right ahead and go, and then send Judahand the Foam Flake back for me. "

So, after a few more protests on Elizabeth's part, it was settled inthat way. She and her packages and bags were tucked in the buggy andGeorge unhitched the placid Foam Flake. On his way he stopped towhisper in the captain's ear. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " he whispered, "I shan't forget this. And, say, if everI get into real trouble I'll know who to come to. "

The "plash-plash" of the Foam Flake's hoofs and the squeak and grind ofbuggy wheels died away along the invisible main road. Captain Searsstared at the ropes of rain laced diagonally across the lighted windowof the town hall. 

After a time, a surprisingly short time, he heard the hoofs returning. It seemed almost incredible that George could have driven to the Harbor, then to the Minot place, and started Judah on the return trip so soon. 

It was not Judah. It was Mike, Judge Knowles' man, and he was drivingDoctor Sheldon's horse attached to the doctor's chaise. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " he hailed, as the equipage splashed up to theplatform, "is that you there?"

"Yes, Mike. What's the matter?"

"I was just after goin' to the Minot place after ye and I met Cahoon andhe tould me you was down here. Git in, git in; the doctor says you mustcome. "

"Come? Come where?"

"Home. To the judge's house. The ould man is dyin' and he wants to seeyou afore he goes. Ye'll have to hurry. The doctor says it's a matter ofany time now. "

CHAPTER IX

Sears Kendrick never forgot that drive from the town hall. The pouringrain, the lurch and roll and bounce of the old chaise, the alternatethud and splash of the horse's hoofs, the black darkness--and the errandupon which he was going. Mike told him a little concerning the seizure. Judge Knowles had been, so Emmeline Tidditt and the doctor thought, appreciably easier during the day. 

"He was like himself, the ould man was, " said Mike. "I went in to seehim this mornin'--he sent for me, you understand--and he give me thedivil and all for not washin' the front room windows. 'Dom ye, ' says he, 'I've only got a little while to look out of thim windows; don't yousuppose I want thim so I _can_ look out of thim?' And the windows cleanas clean all the time, mind ye. Sure, I didn't care: 'Twas just his wayof bein' dacint to me. He give me a five dollar bill before I left, Godrest him. And now----"

Mike was tremendously upset. The captain learned that the attack haddeveloped about six, and the judge had grown steadily worse since. Theupper windows of the Knowles house were bright with lights as they drovein at the yard gate. Mrs. Tidditt met them at the door. Her thin, hardface was tear-streaked and haggard. 

"Oh, I'm so glad you've come, Cap'n Kendrick, " she cried. "He's beenaskin' for you. "

In the hall at the foot of the stairs Doctor Sheldon was waiting. Theyshook hands and Sears looked a question. 

"Not a chance, " whispered the doctor. "Barring miracles, he will gobefore morning. He shouldn't see any one, but he insisted on seeing you. I'll give you five minutes, no more. Don't excite him. "

The judge looked up from the pillow as Sears tiptoed into the room. Hisface was flushed with fever, but otherwise he looked very much as whenthe captain last visited him. It did not seem possible that this couldreally be the end. 

"Hello, Kendrick, " whispered Judge Knowles. "Sit down. Sorry I can'tshake hands with you. "

The voice was weak, of course, but not much weaker than when he had lastheard it. No, it did not seem possible. Captain Sears murmured somethingabout his sorrow at finding the judge ill again. 

"That's all right, that's all right, " was the testy rejoinder. "Youdidn't expect to find me any other way, did you? Kendrick, I wasn't sofar off when I talked about that graveyard trip, eh?. .. Umph--yes. Howmuch time did Sheldon say you might have with me?. .. Don't fool aroundand waste any of it. How many minutes--come?"

"Five. "

"Humph! He might have made it ten, blast him! Well, then listen. WhenI'm gone you're going to be the head of that Fair Harbor place. You'regoing to keep on being the head, I mean. I've fixed it so you'll getyour salary. "

"But, Judge----"

"Hush! Let me do the talking. Good Lord, man, " with an attempt at achuckle, "you wouldn't grudge me any of the little talk I have left, would you? You are to keep on being the head of the Fair Harbor--you_must_ for a year or so. And Elizabeth Berry is to be the manager andhead, under you--if she wants to be. Understand?"

"Why, yes. But, Judge, how----"

"I've fixed it, I tell you. Wait a little while and you'll know how. Butthat isn't what I want to say to you. Lobelia is dead. "

"What?"

"Don't keep asking me what. Listen. Lobelia Seymour--hanged if I'll callher Lobelia Phillips!--is dead. She died over a month ago. I got aletter this afternoon mailed in Florence by that husband of hers. Thereit is, on that table, by the tumbler. .. . Yes, that's it. Don't stop toread it now. Put it in your pocket. You will have time to read it. Timecounts with me. Now listen, Kendrick. "

He paused and asked for water. The captain put the glass to his lips. Heswallowed once or twice and then impatiently jerked his head aside. 

"There are two things you've got to promise me, Kendrick, " he whispered, earnestly. "One is that, so long as you can fight, that condemned EgbertPhillips shan't have a cent of the Fair Harbor property, endowment fund, land or anything else. Will you fight the scamp for me, Kendrick?"

"Of course. The best I know how. "

"You know more than most men in this town. I shouldn't have picked youfor your job if you didn't. That's one thing--spike Egbert's guns. Here's the other: Look out for Elizabeth Berry. "

The captain was not expecting this. He leaned back so suddenly that hischair squeaked. The sick man did not notice, or, if he did, paid noattention. 

"She's Isaac Berry's daughter, " he went on, "and Ike Berry was my bestfriend. More than that, she's a good girl, a fine girl. Her mother ismore or less of a fool, but that isn't the girl's fault. Keep an eye onher, will you, Kendrick?"

"Why--why, I'll do what I can, of course. "

"Like her, don't you?"

"Yes. Very much. "

"You couldn't help it. She is pretty thick with that young Kent, Ibelieve. He's a bright boy. "

"Yes. "

"All right. .. . But there's time enough for that; they're both young. .. . Watch her, Kendrick. See that she doesn't make too big mistakes. She--she's going to have a little money of her own pretty soon--just alittle. Don't let that--that Phillips or--or anybody else get hold ofit. I. .. . Oh, here you are! Confound you, Sheldon, you're a nuisance!"

The doctor opened the door and entered. He nodded significantly toKendrick. The latter understood. So, too, did Judge Knowles. 

"Time's up, eh?" he panted. "Well, all right, I suppose. Good luck toyou, Kendrick. And good night. "

He smiled cheerfully. One might have thought he expected to see hiscaller the next morning. The captain simply could not believe this wasto be the last time. 

"Good night, Judge, " he said. "I'll drop in to-morrow, early. "

The judge did not answer. His last word had to do with other things. 

"Don't you forget, Kendrick, " he whispered. "I've banked on you. "

The feeling of the absolute impossibility of the situation stillremained with Sears as Mike drove him to his own door and Judah helpedhim down from the chaise. It was not possible that a brain like that, abit of machinery capable of thinking so clearly and expressing itself sovigorously, could be so near its final breakdown. A personality likeJudge Knowles' could not end so abruptly. He would not have it so. Thedoctor must be mistaken. He was over pessimistic. 

He sat in the rocking chair until nearly half-past one thinking of thejudge's news, that Lobelia Phillips was dead, and of the charge to him. Fight Egbert--there was an element of humor in that; Knowles certainlydid hate Phillips. But for him, Kendrick, to assume a sort ofguardianship over the fortunes of Elizabeth Berry! The fun in that wastoo sardonic to be pleasant. He thought of many things before heretired, but the way ahead looked foggy enough. And behind the fogwas--what? Why, little sunshine for him, in all human probability. Before blowing out his lamp he peered out of the window at the Knowleshouse. The lights there were still burning. 

The next morning when he came out for breakfast, Judah met him with asolemn face. 

"Bad news for Bayport this mornin', Cap'n Sears, " said Judah. "JudgeKnowles has gone. Slipped his cable about four o'clock, so Mike toldme. There's a good man gone, by Henry! Don't seem hardly as if it couldbe, does it?"

That was exactly what Bayport said when it heard the ill tidings. It didnot seem as if it could be. The judge had been so long a dominant figurein town affairs, his strong will had so long helped to mould and leadopinion and his shrewd common sense had so often guided the community, and individuals, through safe channels and out of troubled waters, thatit was hard to comprehend the fact that he would lead and guide no more. He had many enemies, no man with his determined character could avoidthat, but they were altogether of a type whose enmity was, to decentpeople, preferable to their friendship. During his life it had seemed asif he were a lonely man, but his funeral was the largest held in Bayportsince the body of Colonel Seth Foster, killed at Gettysburg, was broughthome from the front for burial. 

It was a gloomy, drizzly day when the long line of buggies and carryallsand folk on foot followed the hearse to the cemetery amid the pines. Captain Sears, looking back at the procession, thought of the judge'smany prophecies and grim jokes concerning this very journey, and hewondered--well, he wondered as most of us wonder on such occasions. Alsohe realized that, although their acquaintanceship had been brief, he wasgoing to miss Judge Knowles tremendously. 

"I wish I had been lucky enough to know him sooner, " he told Judah thatevening. 

Judah pulled his nose reflectively. "It kind of surprised me, " heobserved, "to hear what the minister said about him. 'Twas the Orthodoxminister, and he's pretty strict, too, but you heard him say that thejudge was one of the best men in Ostable County. Yet he never went tomeetin' what you'd call reg'lar and he did cuss consider'ble. He didnow, didn't he, Cap'n Sears?"

Sears nodded. He was thinking and paying little attention to the Cahoonmoralizing. 

"Um-hm, " went on Judah. "He sartin did. He never said 'sugar' when hemeant 'damn. ' But I don't know, I cal'late I'd ruther been sworn at byJudge Knowles than had a blessin' said over me by some others in theselatitudes. The judge's cussin' would have been honest, anyhow. And henever put one of them swear words in the wrong place. They was alwaysjust where they belonged; even when he swore at me I always agreed withhim. "

Feeling, somehow, that the death of the man who had chosen and employedhim for the position increased his responsibility in that position, Captain Sears worked harder than ever to earn his salary as generalmanager of the Fair Harbor. He had already made some improvements insystematizing and thereby saving money for the institution. Thegroceries, flour, tea, sugar, and the rest, had heretofore beenpurchased at Bassett's store in the village. He still continued to buycertain articles of Eliphalet, principally from motives of policy and toretain the latter's good will, but the bulk of supplies he contractedfor in Boston at the houses from which he had so often bought stores forhis ships. He could not go to the city and negotiate by word of mouth, more was the pity, and so was obliged to make his trades by mail, but hegot bids from several firms and the results were quite worth while. Besides groceries he bought a hogshead of corned beef, barrels ofcrackers, a barrel of salt pork, and, from one of the local fishermen, ahalf dozen kegs of salt mackerel. The saving altogether was a veryappreciable amount. 

The Fair Harbor property included, besides the land upon which the housewas situated, several acres of wood lot timbered with pine and oak. Mrs. Berry--or her daughter--had been accustomed to hire a man to cut andhaul such wood as was needed, from time to time, for the stoves andfireplaces. Also, when repairs had to be done, they hired a carpenter tomake them. Sears, when he got around to it, devoted some considerationto the wood and repair question and, after much haggling, affected asort of three-cornered swap. Benijah Black, the carpenter, was abrother-in-law of Burgess Paine, who owned the local coal, wood, lumberand grain shop by the railway station. The captain arranged that Blackshould do whatever carpenter work might be needed at the Harbor and takehis pay in wood at the wood lot, selling the wood--or a part of it--toPaine, for whom he was in debt for coal and lumber; and, also, for whomhe, Black, was building a new storage shed. It was a complicatedprocess, but it resulted in the Fair Harbor's getting its own firewoodcut, hauled and split for next to nothing, its repair costs cut in half, its coal bills lessened, while Black and Paine seemed to be perfectlysatisfied. Altogether it was a good deal of a managerial triumph, aseven the manager himself was obliged to admit. 

Elizabeth was loud in her praises. 

"I don't see how you ever did it, Cap'n Kendrick, " she declared. "AndBenijah and Mr. Paine are just as contented as we are. It is a miracle. "

Sears grinned. "I don't know quite how I did it, myself, " he said. "'Twas the most complicated piece of steerin' I ever did, and if we comeout without shipwreck it _will_ be a miracle! I'm goin' to tackle thathay question next. There's hay enough on that lower meadow of ours topay for corn for the hens for quite a spell. I'll see if I can't make adicker there somehow. Then if I can fix up a deal with the hens to tradecorn for eggs, we'll come out pretty well, won't we?"

This sort of thing interested him and made him a trifle more contentedwith his work. His talents as a diplomat, such as they were, were neededcontinually. The interior of the Fair Harbor was a sort of incubator forpetty squabbles, jealousies, prejudices and complaints, some funny, manyridiculous, and almost all annoying. The most petty he refused to betroubled with, bidding the complainants go to Mrs. Berry. His refusalswere good-natured but determined. 

"Well, I tell you, Miss Peasley, " he said, when that lady had come tohim with a long, involved wail concerning the manner in which Mrs. Constance Cahoon, who occupied the seat next her at table, insisted onkeeping the window open all through meals, "so's I sit there with adraft blowin' right down my neck the whole time. " "I tell you, MissPeasley, " said the captain, "if I were you I would shut the window. "

"But I do shut it, " declared Desire. "And every time I jump up and shutit, up she bounces and opens it again. "

"Humph! I see. .. . Well, exercise helps digestion, so they say. You canjump as long as she can bounce, can't you?"

Miss Peasley was disgusted. "Well, " she snapped, "I don't call that muchhelp. I supposed if I went to the _manager_ he'd put his foot down. "

"He's goin' to--and then take it up and put it down again. I've got tohobble out to see to mowin' the meadow. You tell Mrs. Berry all aboutit. "

As a part of his diplomacy he made it a point to spend half an hour eachmorning in consultation with Cordelia Berry. The matron of the FairHarbor was at first rather suspicious and ready to resent any intrusionupon her rights and prerogatives. But at each conference the captainlistened so politely to her rambling reports, seemed to receive hersuggestions so eagerly and to ask her advice upon so many points, thather suspicions were lulled and she came to accept the newsuperintendent's presence as a relief and a benefit. 

"He is so very gentlemanly, Elizabeth, " she told her daughter. "And sowilling to learn. At first, as you know, I couldn't see why the poordear judge appointed him, but now I do. He realized that I needed anassistant. In many ways he reminds me of your father. "

"But, mother, " exclaimed her daughter, in surprise, "Cap'n Kendrickisn't nearly as old as father was. "

"Oh it isn't the age that reminded me. It's the manner. He has the samequick, authoritative way of making decisions and saying things. And itis so very gratifying to see how he defers to my judgment andexperience. "

Captain Sears did defer, that is he seldom opposed. But, when eachconference was over, he went his own sweet way, using his own judgmentand doing what seemed to him best. With Elizabeth, however, he wasquite different. When she offered advice--which was seldom--he listenedand almost invariably acted upon it. He was daily growing to have ahigher opinion of her wisdom and capabilities. Whether or not it was thewisdom and capabilities alone which influenced that opinion he did notattempt to analyze. He enjoyed being with her and working with her, thathe knew. That the constant companionship might be, for him, a risky andperhaps dangerous experience, he did not as yet realize. When he waswith her, and busy with Fair Harbor affairs, he could forget theslowness with which his crippled legs were mending, and the increasinglonging--sometimes approaching desperation--for the quarter deck of hisown ship and the sea wind in his face. 

He worked hard for the Harbor and did his best to justify hisappointment as manager, but, work as he might, he knew perfectly wellthat such labors would scarcely earn his salary. But, on the other hand, he knew that the man who appointed him had not expected them to do so. He had been put in charge of the Fair Harbor for one reason alone andthat was to be in command of the ship when the redoubtable Egbert camealongside. Judge Knowles had as much as told him that very thing, andmore than once. Egbert Phillips had been, evidently, the judge's petaversion and, in his later days illness and fretfulness had magnifiedand intensified that aversion. When Sears attempted to find good andsufficient reasons for belief that the husband of Lobelia Seymour wasany such bugbear he was baffled. He asked Judah more questions and hequestioned citizens of Bayport who had known the former singing teacherbefore and after his marriage. Some, like Judah, declared him "slick" or"smooth. " Others, and those the majority, seemed to like him. He waspolite and educated and a "perfect gentleman, " this was the sum offeminine opinion. Captain Sears was inclined to picture him as what hewould have called a "sissy, " and not much more dangerous than that. Thejudge's hatred, he came to believe, was an obsession, a sick man'sfancy. 

He had, of course, read the Phillips letter, that which Judge Knowlesbade him take away and read that night of his death. He hurriedly readit on that occasion before going to bed; he had reread it several timessince. 

It was a well-written letter, there was no doubt of that, a politeletter, almost excessively so, perhaps. In fact, if Sears had beenobliged to find a fault with it it would have been that it was a littletoo polite, a little too polished and flowery. It was not the sort ofletter that he, himself, would have written under stress of grief, buthe realized that it was not the sort of letter he could have written atall. Taken as a whole it was hard to pick flaws which might not be theresult of prejudice, and taken sentence by sentence it stood the testalmost as well. 

"Our life together has been so happy, " wrote Phillips, "so ideal, thatthe knowledge of its end leaves me stunned, speechless, wordless. "

That was exaggeration, of course. He was not wordless, for the lettercontained almost a superfluity of words; but people often said thingsthey did not mean literally. 

"My dear wife and I spoke of you so often, Judge, her affection for youwas so great--an affection which I share, as you know----"

Judge Knowles had not returned the writers affection, quite thecontrary. But it was possible that Phillips did not know this and thathe was fond of the judge. Possible, even if not quite probable. 

"She and I never had a difference of opinion, never a thought which wasnot shared. This, in my hour of sorrow--" Phillips had written "mystricken hour" first, and then altered it to "hour of sorrow"--"is mygreatest, almost my only consolation. "

Yet, as Judge Knowles had expressly stated, Lobelia herself had told himthat her husband did not know of the endowment at the Fair Harbor andshe had at least hinted that her married life was not all happiness. 

But, yet again, the judge was ill and weak, he had never liked Phillips, had always distrusted and suspected him, and might he not have fanciedunhappiness when there was none?

The letter said nothing concerning its writer's plans. It told of Mrs. Phillips' death, her burial at Florence, and of the widower's grief. Theonly hint, or possible hint, concerning a visit to Bayport was containedin one line, "When I see you I can tell you more. "

The captain puzzled over the letter a good deal. He showed it toElizabeth. He found that Judge Knowles had not discussed Egbert with herat all. To her the ex-singing teacher was little more than a name; sheremembered him, but nothing in particular concerning him. She thoughtthe letter a very beautiful one--very sad, of course, but beautiful. Plainly she did not have the feeling which Sears had, but which he wasinclined to think might be fathered by prejudice that it was a trifletoo beautiful, that its beauty was that of a painting by a master, eachstroke carefully touched in at exactly the right place for effect. 

There was no demand for money in it, no hint at straitenedcircumstances; so why should there be any striving for effect? He gaveit up. If the much talked of Egbert was what Judge Knowles had declaredhim to be, then neither the judge nor any one else had exaggerated hissmoothness. 

Emmeline Tidditt, for so many years the Knowles housekeeper, made oneremark which contained possible food for thought. 

"So he buried her over there amongst them foreigners, did he?" observedEmmeline. "That seems kind of funny. When she and him was visitin' herethe last time she told me herself--and he was standin' right alongsideand heard her--that when she died she wanted to be fetched back here toBayport and buried in the Orthodox cemetery alongside her father andmother and all her folks. Said, dead or alive, it wasn't really home forher anywheres else. She must have changed her mind since, though, Ical'late. "

Bayport talked a good deal about Lobelia Phillips and what would becomeof the Fair Harbor now that its founder and patroness was dead. It wassurmised, of course, that Mrs. Phillips had provided for her petinstitution in her will, but that will had not yet been offered forprobate. Neither had the will of Judge Knowles, for that matter. LawyerBradley, over at Orham, the attorney with whom George Kent was readinglaw, was known to be the judge's executor. And Judge Knowles and Mr. Bradley were co-executor's for Lobelia Phillips, having been duly namedby Lobelia on her last visit to Bayport. So, presumably, both wills werein Bradley's possession. But why had they not been probated?

Bradley himself made the explanation. 

"The judge had a nephew in California, " he said. "He was the nearestrelative--although that isn't very near. Of course he couldn't get onfor the funeral, but he is coming pretty soon. I thought I would waituntil he came before I opened the will. As for Mrs. Phillips' will, Iexpect that her husband must be on his way here now. I haven't heardfrom him, but I take it for granted he is coming. I shall wait a whilefor him, too. There is no pressing hurry in either case. "

So Bayport talked about the wills and the expected arrival of the heirs, but as time passed and neither nephew nor husband arrived, began to loseinterest and to talk of other things. Sears Kendrick, remembering hislast conversation with Judge Knowles, was curious to learn exactly whatthe latter meant by his hints concerning "fixing things" for the FairHarbor and Elizabeth having "money of her own, " but he was busy and didnot allow his curiosity to interfere with his schemes and improvements. He and Miss Berry saw each other every day, worked together and plannedtogether, and the captain's fits of despondency and discouragement grewless and less frequent. He had an odd feeling at times, a feeling as if, instead of growing older daily, he was growing younger. He mentioned itto Elizabeth on one occasion and she did not laugh, but seemed tounderstand. 

"It is true, " she said. "I have noticed it. You _are_ getting younger, Cap'n Kendrick. "

"Am I? That's good. Be better yet if I didn't have such a tremendouslong way to go. "

"Nonsense! You aren't old. When I first met you I thought--it soundsdreadful when I say it--I thought you were fifty, at least. Now I don'tbelieve you are more than--well, thirty-five. "

"Oh, yes, I am. I am--humph!--let's see, I am--er--thirty-eight my nextbirthday. And I suppose that sounds pretty ancient to you. "

"No, indeed it doesn't. Why, thirty-eight isn't old at all!"

The interesting discussion of ages was interrupted just then, but Searsfound pleasure in the thought that she, too, had noticed that he lookedand acted younger. It was being at work again, he believed, which wasresponsible for the rejuvenation; this and the now unmistakable factthat, although the improvement was still provokingly slow, his legs werebetter, really better. He could, as he said, navigate much more easilynow. Once, at supper time, he walked from his room to the table withouta cane. It was a laborious journey, and he was glad when it was over, but he made it. Judah came in just in time to see the end. 

"Jumpin', creepin', hoppin' hookblocks, Cap'n Sears!" cried Judah. "Isthat you, doin' that?"

"What's left of me, Judah. I feel just this minute as if there wasn'tmuch left. "

"Well, creepin' prophets! I couldn't believe it. Thinks I, 'There's fogin my deadlights and I can't see through 'em right. ' Well, by Henry! Anda little spell ago you was tellin' me you'd never be able to cruiseagain except under jury rig. Humph! You'll be up to the town halldancin' 'Hull's Victory' and 'Smash the Windows' fust thing we know. "

After supper the captain, using the cane but whistling a sprightly air, strolled out to the front gate, where, leaning over the fence, he lookedup and down the curving, tree-shaded road, dozing in the late summertwilight. And up that road came George Kent, also whistling, to swingin at the Fair Harbor gate and stride to the side door. 

Before that object lesson of real youth Sears' fictitious imitationseemed cheap and shoddy. He leaned heavily upon his cane as he hobbledback to the kitchen. 

The next day something happened. Sears had been busy all the forenoonsuperintending the carting in and stowing of the Fair Harbor share ofoak and pine from the wood-lot. Thirteen cords of it, sawed and split inlengths to suit the Harbor stoves and fireplaces, were to be piled inthe sheds adjoining the old Seymour barn at the rear of the premises. Judah had been engaged to do the piling. The captain had hesitated aboutemploying him for several reasons, one being that he was drawingwages--small but regular--as caretaker at the General Minot place;another, that there might be some criticism--or opportunity forcriticism--because of the relationship, landlord and lodger, whichexisted between them. Judah himself scorned the thought. 

"Mean to tell me I can't work for you just because you're boardin' alongof me, Cap'n Sears?" he protested. "I've cooked for you a good manyyears and I worked for you then, didn't I?"

"Ye--es, but you had signed up to work for me then. That's what theypaid you for. "

"Well, it's what _you_ pay me for now, ain't it? And Ogden Minot he paysme to be stevedore aboard his house yonder. And the Fair Harbor'scal'latin' to pay me for pilin' this wood, ain't it? You ain't payin'for that, nor Ogden nuther. Well, then!. .. Oh, don't let's waste timearguin' about it now, Cap'n Sears. Let's do the way Abe Pepper done whenthe feller asked him to take a little somethin'. Abe had promised hiswife he'd sign the pledge and he was on his way to temp'rance meetin'where he was goin' to meet her and sign it. And on the way he ran acrostthis feller--Cornelius Bassett 'twas--and Cornelius says, 'Come have adrink with me, Abe, ' he says. Well, time Abe got around to meet his wifethe temp'rance meetin' hall was all dark and Abe was all--er--lightedup, as you might say. 'Why didn't you tell that Bassett man you was in ahurry and couldn't stop?' his wife wanted to know. 'Didn't have time totell him nothin', ' explains Abe. 'I knew I was late for meetin' as'twas. ' 'Then why didn't you come right on _to_ meetin'?' she wanted toknow. 'If I'd done that I'd lost the drink, ' says he. "

The captain laughed, but looked doubtful. 

"I don't quite see where that yarn fits in this case, Judah, " heobserved. 

"Don't ye? Well, I don't know's it does. But anyhow, don't let's wastetime arguin'. Let me pile the wood fust and then we can argueafterwards. "

So he was piling busily, carrying the wood in huge armfuls from theheaps where the carts had left it into the barn, and singing as heworked. But, bearing in mind his skipper's orders concerning the kind ofsong he was to sing, his chantey this time dealt neither with theeternal feminine nor the flowing bowl. Suggested perhaps by the natureof his task, he bellowed of "Fire Down Below. "

 "'Fire in the galley, Fire in the house, Fire in the beef-kid Burnin' up the scouce. Fire, _fire_, FIRE down below! Fetch a bucket of water! Fire! down BELOW!'"

Captain Sears, after watching and listening for a few minutes, turned tolimp up the hill, past the summer-house and the garden plots, to theside entrance of the Fair Harbor. The mystery of these garden patches, their exact equality of size and shape, had been explained to him byElizabeth. The previous summer the Fair Harbor guests, or a few of them, led, as usual, by Miss Snowden and Mrs. Brackett, had suddenly beenseized with a feverish desire to practice horticulture. They haddemanded flower beds of their own. So, after much debate anddisagreement on their part Elizabeth and her mother had had the slopebeneath the Eyrie laid out in plots exactly alike, one for each guest, and the question of ownership had been settled by drawing lots. Eachplot owner might plant and cultivate her own garden in her own way. These ways differed widely, hence the varied color schemes anddiversifications of design noted by Sears on his first visit. The mostelaborate--not to say "whirliggy"--design was the product of MissSnowden's labor. The captain would have guessed it. The plot whichcontained no flowers at all, but was thickly planted with beets, onionsand other vegetables, belonged to Esther Tidditt. He would have guessedthat, too. 

He had stopped for an instant to inspect the plots, when he heard afootstep. Looking up, he saw a man descending the slope along the pathby the Eyrie. 

The man was a stranger, that was plain at first glance. The captain didnot know every one in Bayport, but he had at least a recognizingacquaintance with most of the males, and this particular male was notone of them. And Sears would have bet heavily that neither was he one ofthe very few whom he did not know. He was not a Bayport citizen, he didnot look Bayport. 

He was very tall and noticeably slim. He wore a silk hat what Bayportstill called a "beaver" in memory of the day's when such headpieces werereally covered with beaver fur. There was nothing unusual in this fact;most of Bayport's prosperous citizens wore beavers on Sundays or fordress up. But there was this of the unusual about this particular hat:it had an air about it, a something which would have distinguished itamid fifty Bayport tiles. And yet just what that something was SearsKendrick could not have told he could not have defined it, but he knewit was there. 

There was the same unusual something about the stranger's apparel ingeneral, and yet there was nothing loud about it or queer. He carried acane, but so did Captain Elkanah Wingate, for that matter, although onlyon Sundays. Captain Elkanah, however, carried his as if it were a club, or a scepter, or a--well, a marlinspike, perhaps. The stranger's canewas a part of his arm, and when he twirled it the twirls were gracefulgestures, not vulgar flourishes. 

Sears's reflections concerning the newcomer were by no means asanalytical as this, of course. His first impressions were those of onecoming upon a beautiful work of art, a general wonder and admiration, not detailed at all. Judah, standing behind him with an armful of wood, must have had similar feelings, for he whispered, hoarsely, "Creepin'Moses, Cap'n Sears, is that the Prince of Wales, or who?"

The man, standing in the path above the gardens, stopped to look abouthim. And at that moment, from the vine-covered Eyrie emerged Miss ElviraSnowden. She had evidently been there for some time, reading--she had abook in her hand--and as she came out she and the stranger were broughtface to face. 

Sears and Judah saw them look at each other. The man raised his hat andsaid something which they could not hear. Then Miss Snowden cried "Oh!"She seemed intensely surprised and, for her, a good deal flustered. There was more low-toned conversation. Then Elvira and the strangerturned and walked back up the path toward the house. He escorted her ina manner and with a manner which made that walk a sort of royalprogress. 

"Who was that?" asked Sears, as much of himself as of Judah. 

But Mr. Cahoon had, by this time, settled the question to his ownsatisfaction. 

"It's one of them slick critters peddlin' lightnin' rods, " he declared, with conviction. "When you sight somebody that looks like a crossbetween a minister and one of them stuffed dummies they have outside ofthe stores in Dock Square to show off clothes on, then you can 'mostgenerally bet he's peddlin' lightnin' rods. Either that or paintin'signs on fences about 'Mustang Liniment' or 'Vegetine' or somethin'. Why, a feller like that hove alongside me over in our yard onetime--'twas afore you come, Cap'n Sears--and I give you my word, theway he was togged up I thought----"

The captain did not wait to hear the Cahoon thought. He walked away. Ina few minutes he had forgotten the stranger, having other and moreimportant matters on his mind. There was a question concerning the FairHarbor cooking range which was perplexing him just at this time. Itlooked as if they might have to buy a new one, and Sears, assuperintendent of finances, hated to spend the money that month. 

He limped up the slope and along the path to the side door. And when heentered that door he became aware that something unusual was going on. The atmosphere of the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women was, so to speak, electrified, it was vibrant with excitement and mystery. 

There was no one in the dining room, and no one in the sitting room. Yetin each of these apartments were numerous evidences that people had beenthere very recently and left in a great hurry. A cloth partially laidand left hanging. Drawers of the buffet left open. A broom lyingdirectly in the middle of the floor where it had been dropped. An upsetwork-basket, disgorging spools, needle packets, and an avalanche ofstockings awaiting darning. A lamp with the chimney standing beside iton the table. These were some of the signs denoting sudden and importantinterruption of a busy forenoon. 

Captain Sears, wondering much, turned from the sitting room into thehall leading to the parlor. Then he became aware that, ahead of him, wasthe center and core of excitement. From the parlor came a murmur ofvoices, exclamations, giggles--the sounds as of a party, a meeting ofthe sewing-circle, or a reception. He could not imagine what it was allabout. 

He reached the parlor door and stood there for an instant looking in. Every inmate of the Harbor was in that room, including Elizabeth and hermother and even Caroline Snow, who, because it was Monday, was there tohelp with the washing. And every one--or almost every one--was talking, and the majority were crowded about one spot, a spot where stood a man, a man whom Sears recognized as the stranger he had seen in the garden. 

And then Mrs. Berry, who happened to be facing the door, saw him. Shebroke through the ring of women and hurried over. Her face was aglow, her eyes were shining, there were bright spots in her cheeks, and, altogether, she looked younger and handsomer than the captain had everseen her, more as he would have imagined she must have looked in thedays when Cap'n Ike came South a-courting. 

"Oh, Captain Kendrick, " she cried, "I am so _very_ glad you have come. We have just had such a surprise! Such a very unexpected surprise, but avery delightful one. Come! You must meet him. "

She took his hand and led him toward the stranger. The latter, seeingthem approach, politely pushed through the group surrounding him andstepped forward. Sears noticed for the first time that the sleeve of hiscoat was encircled by a broad band of black. His tie was black also, sowere his cuff buttons. He was in mourning. An amazing idea flashed tothe captain's brain. 

"Captain Kendrick, " gushed Mrs. Berry, "I have the honor to present youto Mr. Phillips, husband of our beloved founder. "

Mr. Phillips smiled--his teeth were very fine, his smile engaging. Heextended a hand. 

"I am delighted to meet Captain Kendrick, " he said. 

The captain's stammered answer was conventional, and was not a literalexpression of his thought. The latter, put into words, would have been:

"Egbert! I might have known it. "

But there was no real reason why he should have known it, for thisEgbert was not at all like the Egbert he had been expecting to see. 

CHAPTER X

Sears Kendrick left the Fair Harbor, perhaps fifteen minutes later, withthat thought still uppermost in his mind. This was not at all the EgbertPhillips he had expected. From Judge Knowles' conversation, from JudahCahoon's stories, from fragmentary descriptions he had picked up hereand there about Bayport, he had fashioned an Egbert who had come to bein his mind a very real individual. This Egbert of his imagining was anoily, rather flashily dressed adventurer, a glib talker, handsome in astage hero sort of way, with exaggerated politeness and a toothsomesmile. There should be about this individual a general atmosphere ofbrilliantine, clothes and jewelry. On the whole he might have beenexpected to look a bit like the manager the captain had seen standingbeside the ticket wagon at the circus, twirling his mustache with onehand and his cane with the other. Not quite as showy, not quite aspicturesque, but a marked resemblance nevertheless. 

And the flesh and blood Egbert Phillips was not that kind at all. Onewas not conscious of his clothes, except that they were all that theyshould be as to fit--and style. He wore no jewelry whatever save hisblack cuff buttons and studs. His black tie was not of Bayport'sfashion, certainly. It was ample, flowing and picturesque, rather in theforeign way. No other male in Bayport could have worn that tie and notlooked foolish, yet Mr. Phillips did not look foolish, far from it. Hedid not wear a beard, another unusual bit of individuality, but hislong, drooping mustache was extraordinarily becoming and--yes, aristocratic was the word. His smile was pleasant, his handshake wascordial, but not overdone, and his voice low and pleasant. Above all hehad a manner, a manner which caused Sears, who had sailed pretty wellover the world and had met all sorts of people in all sorts of places, to feel awkward and countrified. Yet one could tell that Mr. Phillipswould not have one feel that way for the world; it was his desire to putevery one at his or her ease. 

He greeted the captain with charming affability. He had heard of him, ofcourse. He understood they were neighbors, as one might say. He lookedforward to the pleasure of their better acquaintance. He had gotten butlittle further than this when Mrs. Berry, Miss Snowden and the restagain swooped down upon him and Sears was left forgotten on the outsideof the circle. He went home soon afterward and sat down in the Minotkitchen to think it over. 

Egbert had come. .. . Well? Now what?

He spent the greater part of the afternoon superintending the stowage ofthe wood and did not go back to the Harbor at all. But he was perfectlycertain that he was not missed. The Fair Harbor for Mariners' Womenfairly perspired excitement. Caroline Snow, her washing hung upon thelines in the back yard, found time to scurry down the hill and tellJudah the news. The captain had limped up to his room for a forgottenpipe, and when he returned Judah was loaded with it. He fired his firstbroadside before his lodger entered the barn. 

"Say, Cap'n Sears, " hailed Mr. Cahoon, breathlessly, "do you know whothat feller was me and you seen along of Elviry this forenoon? The tallone with the beaver and--and the gloves and the cane? The one I calledthe Prince of Wales or else a lightnin'-rod peddler? Do you know who heis?"

Sears nodded. "Yes, " he said, shortly. 

Judah stared, open-mouthed. 

"You _do_?" he gasped. 

"Yes. "

"You mean to tell me you know he's that--ah--er-what's-his-name--EgPhillips come back?"

"Yes, Judah. "

"My hoppin' Henry! Why didn't you say so?"

"I didn't know it then, Judah. I found it out afterward, when I went upto the house. "

"Yes--but--but you knew it when you and me was eatin' dinner, didn'tyou? Why didn't you say somethin' about it then?"

"Oh I don't know. It isn't important enough to interfere with our meals, is it?"

Judah slowly shook his head. "It's a dum good thing you wan't aroundtime of the flood, Cap'n Sears, " he declared. "'Twould have been thethirty-eighth day afore you'd have cal'lated 'twas sprinklin' hardenough to notice. Afore that you'd have called it a thick fog, I presumelikely. If you don't think this Phillips man's makin' port is importantenough to talk about you take a cruise down to the store to-night. You'll hear more cacklin' than you'd hear in a henhouse in a week--andall account of just one Egg, too, " he added, with a chuckle. 

"Caroline told you he had come, I suppose? Well, what does she think ofhim?"

Judah snorted. "She?" he repeated. "She thinks he's the Angel Gabrieldressed up. "

He would have liked to discuss the new arrival the remainder of theafternoon, but the captain was not in the mood to listen. Neither was hemore receptive or discussive at supper time. Judah wanted to talk ofnothing else and to speculate concerning the amount of wealth which Mr. Phillips might have inherited, upon the probable date of the reading ofLobelia's will, upon whether or not the fortunate legatee might take uphis residence in Bayport. 

"Say Cap'n" he observed, turning an inflamed countenance from the steamof dishwashing, "don't you cal'late maybe he may be wantin' to--er--sortof change things aboard the Fair Harbor? He'll be Admiral, as you mightsay, now, won't he?"

"Will he?"

"Well--won't he?"

"Don't know, Judah. I haven't thrown up my commission yet, you know. "

"No, course you ain't, course you ain't. I don't mean he'd think ofdisrating you, Cap'n Sears. Nobody'd be fool-head enough for that. .. . But, honest, I would like to look at him and hear him talk. CarolineSnow, she says he's the finest, highest-toned man ever _she_ see. "

"Yes? Well, that's sayin' somethin'. "

"Yus, but 'tain't sayin' too much. She lives down to Woodchuck Neck andthe highest thing down there is a barrel of cod-livers. They're good andhigh when the sun gets to 'em. "

When the dishes were done he announced that he guessed likely he mightas well go down to Eliphalet's and listen to the cackling. The captaindid not object, and so he put on his cap and departed. But he was backagain in less than a minute. 

"He's comin', Cap'n, " he cried, excitedly. "Creepin' Moses! He's comin'here. "

Sears remained calm. "He is, eh?" he observed. "Well, is he creepin'now?"

"Hey? Creepin'? What are you talkin' about?"

"Why, Moses. You said he was comin', didn't you?"

"I said that Egbert man was comin'. He was just onlatchin' the gate whenI see him. .. . Hey? That's him knockin' now. Shall I--shall I let him in, Cap'n Sears?"

"I would if I were you, Judah. If you don't I shall have to. "

So Judah did. Mr. Phillips entered the kitchen, removing his silk hat atthe threshold. Mr. Cahoon followed, too overcome with excitement andcuriosity to remember to take off his own cap. Sears Kendrick would haverisen from the armchair in which he was seated, but the visitor extendeda gloved hand. 

"Don't. Don't rise, I beg of you, " he said, earnestly. "Pray keep yourseat, Captain Kendall. I have just learned of your most unfortunateaccident. Really, I must insist that you remain just as you are. Youwill distress me greatly if you move on my account. Thank you, thankyou. I suppose I should apologize for running in in this informal way, but I feel almost as if I had known you for a long time. Our mutualfriends, the Berrys, have told me so much concerning you since myarrival that I did not stand upon ceremony at all. "

"That's right, " declared the captain, heartily. "I'm glad you didn't. Sit down, Mr. Phillips. Put your hat on the table there. "

Judah stepped forward. 

"Give it to me; I'll take care of it, " he said, taking the shining beaverfrom the visitor's hand. "I'll hang it up yonder in the back entry, then'twon't get knocked onto the floor. .. . No, no, don't set in that chair, that's got a spliced leg; it's liable to land you on your beam ends ifyou ain't careful. Try this one. "

He kicked the infirm chair out of the way and pushed forward asubstitute. "There, " he added, cheerfully, "that's solid's the rock ofGiberaltar. Nothin' like bein' sure of your anchorage. Set down, setdown. "

He beamed upon the caller. The latter did not beam exactly. Hisexpression was a queer one. Sears came to the rescue. 

"Mr. Phillips, " he said, "this is Mr. Cahoon. "

Judah extended a mighty hand. 

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Phillips, " he declared. "I'veheard tell of you considerable. "

Egbert looked at the hand. His expression was still queer. 

"Oh--ah--how d'ye do?" he murmured. 

"Mr. Cahoon and I are old friends, " explained Sears. "I am boardin' herewith him. "

"Yus, " put in Judah. "And afore that I shipped cook aboard Cap'n Sears'svessels for a good many v'yages. The cap'n and I get along fust rate. He's all right, Cap'n Sears is, _I_ tell ye!"

Mr. Phillips murmured something to the effect that he was sure of it. Hedid not seem very sure of Judah. Mr. Cahoon did not notice theuncertainty, he pushed his hand nearer to the visitor's. 

"I'm real glad to meet you, " he said. 

Egbert gingerly took the proffered hand, moved it up and down once andthen dropped it, after which he looked at his glove. Judah looked at it, too. 

"Kind of chilly outdoor to-night, is it?" he asked. "Didn't seem so tome. "

Again his lodger came to the rescue. 

"Well, Mr. Phillips, " he said, "you gave us all a little surprise, didn't you? Of course we expected you in a general sort of way, but wedidn't know when you would make port. "

Egbert bowed. "I scarcely knew myself, " he said. "My plans were somewhatvague and--ah--rather hurriedly made, naturally. Of course my greatsorrow, my bereavement----"

He paused, sighed and then brushed the subject away with a wave of hisglove. 

"You won't mind, I'm sure, " he said, "if I don't dwell upon that justnow. It is too recent, the shock is too great, I really cannot. .. . But Iam so sorry to hear of your disability. A railway wreck, I understand. Outrageous carelessness, no doubt. Really, Captain Kendrick, one cannotfind excuses for the reckless mismanagement of your Americanrailways. .. . Why, what is it? Don't you agree with me?"

The captain had looked up momentarily. Now he was looking down again. 

"Don't you agree with me?" repeated Egbert. "Surely you, of all people, should not excuse their recklessness. "

Sears shook his head. "Oh, I wasn't tryin' to, " he replied. "I was onlywonderin' why you spoke of 'em as 'your' railroads. They aren't mine, you know. That is, any more than they are Judah's--or yours--or anyother American's. No such luck. "

Mr. Phillips coughed, smiled, coughed again, and then explained that hehad used the word 'your' without thinking. 

"I have been so long an--ah--shall I say exile, Captain Kendall, " heobserved, "that I have, I presume, fallen somewhat into the Europeanhabit of thinking and--ah--speaking. Habit is a peculiar thing, is itnot?"

Mr. Cahoon, intensely interested in the conversation, evidently felt ithis duty to contribute toward it. 

"You're right there, Mr. Phillips, " he announced, with emphasis. "Don't talk to me about habits! When a man's been to sea as long's Ihave he runs afoul of pretty nigh every kind of habit there is, seemsso. Why, I knew a feller one time--down to Surinam 'twas--I was cookand steward aboard the old _Highflyer_--and this feller--he wan'ta white man, nor he wan't all nigger nuther, kind of in between, one ofthem--er--er--octoreens, that's what he was--well, this feller he hadthe dumdest habit. Every day of his life, about the middle of the dogwatch he'd up and----"

"Judah. "

"Aye, aye, Cap'n Sears?"

"You'll be late down at the store, won't you?"

"Hey? Oh, I don't care how late I be. I don't know's I'm so dreadfulpartic'lar about goin' down there to-night, anyhow. Don't know but I'djust as live stay here. "

"I'd go. "

"Hey? Oh, I----"

"I'd go, if I were you. You know there's likely to be a good deal goin'on. "

"Think so, do you?" Judah was evidently on the fence. "Course, I----Well, maybe I had better, come to think of it. Good night, Mr. Phillips. I'll tell you about that octoreen feller next time I see you. So long, Cap'n Sears. I'll report about, " with a wink, "the cacklin' later. Creepin'! it's most eight now, ain't it?"

He hurried out. Egbert looked rather relieved. He smiled tolerantly. 

"Evidently an eccentric, your--er--man, " he observed. 

"He has his ways, like the majority of us, I guess, " declared thecaptain, crisply. "Underneath he is as square and big-hearted as theymake. And he's a good friend of mine. "

"Oh, yes; yes, I'm sure of it. Captain Kendall----"

"Kendrick, not Kendall. "

Mr. Phillips begged pardon for the mistake. It was inexcusable, headmitted. He had heard the captain's name mentioned so frequently sincehis arrival in Bayport, especially by Mrs. Berry and her daughter, "sofavorably, even enthusiastically mentioned, " that he certainly shouldhave remembered it. "I am not quite myself, I fear, " he added. "Myrecent bereavement and the added shock of the death of my dear oldfriend the judge have had their effect. My nerves are--well, youunderstand, I am sure. "

He made a lengthy call. He talked a great deal, and his conversation wasalways interesting. He spoke much of his dear wife, of life abroad, ofGenoa and Leghorn, ports which the captain had visited, and of thechanges in Bayport since his last sojourn in the village. But he saidalmost nothing concerning his plans for the future, and of the FairHarbor very little. In fact, Sears had the feeling that he was waitingfor him to talk concerning that institution. This the captain would notdo and, at last, Mr. Phillips himself touched lightly upon the fringesof the subject. 

"Do you find your duties in connection with the--ah--retreat next doorarduous, Captain Kendrick?" he inquired. 

"Eh?. .. Oh, no, I don't know as I'd call 'em that, exactly. "

"I imagine not, I imagine not. You are--you are, I gather, a sortof--oh---- What should I call you, captain; in your official capacity, you know?"

He laughed pleasantly. Sears smiled. 

"Give it up, " he replied. "I told Elizabeth--Miss Berry, I mean--when Ifirst took the berth that I scarcely knew what it was. "

"Ha, ha! Yes, I can imagine. Miss Berry--charming girl, isn't she, captain--intimated to me that your position was somewhat--ah--general. You exercise a sort of supervision over the finances and management, ina way, do you not?"

"In a way, yes. "

"Yes. Of course, my dear sir, you understand that I am not undulycurious. I don't mean to be. This--ah--Fair Harbor was, as you know, very dear to the heart of Mrs. Phillips and, now that she has been takenfrom me, I feel, of course, a sense of trust, of sacred responsibility. We had understood, she and I, that our dear friend--Judge Knowles--wasin supreme charge--nominally, I mean; of course Mrs. Berry was in actualcharge--and, therefore, I confess to a natural feeling of--shall I saysurprise, on learning that the judge had appointed another person, anunderstudy, as it were?"

"Well, you couldn't be any more surprised than I was when the judgeasked me to take the job. And Elizabeth and her mother know that Ihesitated considerable before I did take it. Judge Knowles was in hislast sickness, he couldn't attend to things himself. "

Mr. Phillips raised a protesting hand. "Please don't misunderstand me, "he said. "Don't, I beg of you, think for a moment that I am objecting tothe judge's action, or even criticizing it. It was precisely the thinghe should have done, what Mrs. Phillips and I would have wished him todo. And as for his choice of--ah--appointee----"

Captain Sears interrupted. "As to that, " he said, "you can criticize asmuch as you please. You can't object any more than I did when me made methe offer. "

The protesting hand was again raised. "Criticism or objection was thevery farthest from my mind, I assure you, " Egbert declared. "I was aboutto say that Judge Knowles showed his usual--ah--acumen when he selecteda man as well known and highly esteemed as yourself, sir. The mention ofthe name of Captain Kendall----"

"Kendrick. "

"Kendrick, of course. I apologize once more. But, if you will permit meto say so, a man as well and favorably known to us all as you are, sir, is certainly the ideal occupant of the--ah--place. "

"Thanks. You knew of me, then? I don't think you and I have ever metbefore, have we?"

"No; no, I believe I have never before had the pleasure. "

"Thanks. I was pretty sure I hadn't. I've been away from Bayport a gooddeal. I wasn't here when you and your wife came back--about five yearsago, wasn't it? And, of course, I didn't know you when you used to livehere. Let's see; you used to teach singin'-school, didn't you?"

This question was asked in the most casual fashion. Mr. Phillips did notanswer at once. He coughed, changed his position, and then smiledgraciously. 

"Yes, " he said. "Yes, I--I did something of the sort, for a time. Musichas always been a--one might call it a--ah--hobby of mine. But, regarding your duties as--well, whatever those duties are, CaptainKendrick: You say they are not arduous. And your--ah--compensation?That, I understand, is not large? Pardon my referring to it, but as Mrs. Phillips was the owner and benefactress of the Fair Harbor, and as Iam--shall I say heir--to her interests, why, perhaps my excuse forasking for information is--ah--a reasonable one. "

He paused, and with another smile and wave of the hand, awaited hishost's reply. Sears looked at him. 

"I guess you know what my wages are, Mr. Phillips, " he observed. "Don'tyou?"

"Why--why--ah--ah----"

"Didn't Cordelia tell you? She knows. So does Elizabeth. "

"Why--why, Mrs. Berry did mention a figure, I believe. I seem torecall--ah--ah--something. "

"If you remember fifteen hundred a year, you will have it right. That isthe amount I'm paid for bein' in general command over there. As you say, it isn't very large, but perhaps it's large enough for what I do. "

"Oh--ah, _don't_ misunderstand me, Captain Kendrick, please don't. Iwas not questioning the amount of your salary. "

"Wasn't you? My mistake. I thought you was. "

"No; indeed no. My only feeling in regard to it was its--ah--triflingsize. It--pardon me, but it seemed such a small sum for you to accept, aman of your attainments. "

"My attainments, as you call 'em, haven't got me very far I'm a poor manand, just now at any rate, I'm a cripple, a wreck on a lee shore. Fifteen hundred a year isn't so small to me. "

Mr Phillips apologized. He was sorry he had referred to the subject. Butthe captain, he was sure, understood his motive for asking, and, nowthat so much had been said, might he say just a word more. 

"Our dear Cordelia--Mrs. Berry--" he went on, "intimated thatyour--ah--compensation was paid by the judge, himself. "

"Yes it was. Judge Knowles paid it with his own money. It doesn't comeout of the Fair Harbor funds. "

"Yes, yes, of course, of course. The judge's interest in my belovedwife's--ah--whims--perhaps that is too frivolous a word--wasextraordinarily fine. But now the judge has passed on. "

"Yes. More's the pity. "

"I heartily agree with you, it is a great pity. An irreparable loss. .. . But he has gone. "

"Yes. "

Just here the dialogue came to a peculiar halt. Mr. Phillips seemed tobe waiting for his companion to say something and the captain to bewaiting for Phillips himself to say it first. As a consequence neithersaid it. When the conversation was resumed it was once more of a generalnature. It was not until just beyond the end of the call that the FairHarbor was again mentioned. And, as at first, it was the caller who ledup to it. 

"Captain Kendrick, " he observed, "you are, like myself, a man of theworld, a man of wide experience. "

This was given forth as a positive statement, not a question, yet heseemed to expect a reply. Sears obliged. 

"Oh, I don't know, " he demurred. 

"Pardon me, but I do. I am accustomed to judge persons and characters, and I think I may justly pride myself on making few mistakes. From whatI had heard I expected to find you a man of the world, a man ofexperience and judgment. Judge Knowles' selection of you asthe--ah--temporary head of the Fair Harbor would have indicated that, ofcourse, but, if you will permit me to say so, this interview hasconfirmed it. "

Again he paused, as if expecting a reply. And again the captain humoredhim. 

"Much obliged, " he said. 

The Phillips hand waved the thanks away. There was another perceptiblewait. Then said Egbert, "Captain Kendrick, as one man of the world toanother, what do you think of the--ah--institution next door?"

Sears looked at him. "What do I think of it?" he repeated. 

"Yes, exactly. It was, as you know, the darling of my dear wife's heart. When she loaned her--shall we say her ancestral home, and--ah--money tothe purpose she firmly believed the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women tobe an inspiration for good. She believed its founding to be thebeginning of a great work. Is it doing that work, do you think? In youropinion, sir, is it a success?"

Captain Sears slowly stroked his close-cropped beard. What was the mandriving at?

"Why--I don't know as I know exactly what you mean by success, " hehesitated. "It's takin' care of its--er--boarders and it's makin' a homefor 'em. That is what your wife wanted it to do, didn't she?"

"Oh, yes, yes, quite so. But that is not precisely what I mean. Put itthis way, sir: In your opinion, as a man of affairs----"

"Here, here, just a minute. I'm not a man of affairs. I'm a broken-downsea cap'n on shore, that's all. "

Again the upraised hand. "_I_ know what you are, Captain Kendrick, "said Egbert. "That, if you will permit me to say so, is why I am askingyour opinion. The success of a--ah--proposition depends, as I see it, upon the amount of success achieved in proportion to the amount ofenergy, capital--ah--whatnot invested. Now, considering the sum neededto support the Fair Harbor--paid, as doubtless you know, CaptainKendrick, from the interest of an amount loaned and set aside by my dearwife some years ago--considering that sum, I say, added to the amountsunk, or invested, in the house, land, furnishings, et cetera, is ityour opinion that the institution's success is a sufficient return? Or, might not the same sums, put into other--ah--charities, reap largerrewards? Rewards in the shape of good to our fellow men and women, Captain Kendrick? What do you think?"

Sears crossed his knees. 

"I don't know, " he said. 

"Of course, of course. One does not know. But it is a question to beconsidered, is it not?"

"Why--why, yes, maybe. Do I understand that you are thinkin' of givin'up the Fair Harbor? Doin' away with it?"

"Oh, no, no, no!" Mr. Phillips pushed the surmise deeper into thebackground with each negative. "I am not considering anything of thatsort, Captain Kendrick. "

"Well--humph! My mistake again. I thought you just said you wereconsiderin' it. "

"Only as a question, Captain, only as a question. While my wife lived, of course, the Fair Harbor--_her_ Fair Harbor--was a thing fixed, immovable. Now that she has been taken from me, it devolves upon me, thecare of her trusts, her benefactions. "

"Yes. So you said, Mr. Phillips. "

"I believe I did say so. Yes. And therefore, as I see it, a part of thattrust is to make sure that every penny of her--ah--charity is doing thegreatest good to the greatest number. "

"And you think the Fair Harbor isn't gettin' its money's worth?"

"Oh, no, no, no. I don't say that. I don't say that at all. I am sure itmust be. I am merely considering, that is all, merely considering. .. . Well, Captain Kendrick, I must go. We shall see each other often, Itrust. I have-ah--a suite at the Central House and if you will do me thehonor of calling I shall greatly appreciate it. Pray drop in at anytime, sir. Don't, I beg of you, stand upon ceremony. "

Sears promised that he would not. He was finding it hard to keep fromsmiling. A "suite" at the Central House, Bayport's one hostelry, tickledhim. He knew the rooms at that hit or miss tavern. 

"Good-by, Captain Kendrick, " said Mr. Phillips. "Upon one thing I feelsure you may congratulate yourself, that is that your troubles and pettyannoyances as--ah--manager of the Fair Harbor are practically over. "

"Oh, " observed the captain. 

"Yes. I think I shall be able to relieve you of _that_ care veryshortly. And the sooner the better, I presume you are saying. Yes? Ha, ha!"

"Thanks. Goin' to appoint somebody else, eh?"

"Oh, no, no! My _dear_ sir! Why, I--I really--I thought you understood. I mean to say simply that, while I am here in person, and as long as Iam here, I shall endeavor to look after the matters myself andconsequently relieve you, that is all. Judge Knowles appointed you andpaid you--a very wise and characteristic thing for him to do; but he, poor man, is dead. One could scarcely expect you to go on performingyour duties gratuitously. That is why I congratulate you upon thelifting of the burden from your shoulders. "

"Oh, yes. Um-hm. I see. Thank you, Mr. Phillips. "

"I should thank you, sir, for all you have already done. I dosincerely. .. . Oh, by the way, Captain Kendrick, perhaps it would be aswell that nothing be said concerning this little business talk of ours. One knows how trifles are distorted, mole hills made mountains, and allthat, in communities like--well, like dear old Bayport. We love ourBayporters, bless them, but they will talk. Ha, ha! So, captain, if youwill consider our little chat confidential----"

"I will. "

"Thank you, sir, thank you. And we shall see each other frequently. I amcounting upon it. _Au revoir_, Captain Kendrick. Don't rise, I beg ofyou. "

He was gone, the door closed behind him. Sears filled his pipe, lightedit, and leaned back in his chair to review and appraise his impressions. 

The appraisal was not altogether satisfactory. It was easy to say thathe did not like Egbert Phillips, for it was the truth--he did not likehim. But to affirm truthfully that that dislike was founded uponanything more substantial than prejudice due to Judge Knowles'detestation was not so easy. The question which continually intruded wasthis: Suppose he had met Mr. Phillips for the first time, never havingheard of him before--would he have disliked and distrusted him underthose circumstances? He could not be quite sure. 

For, leaving aside Egbert's airy condescension and his--to the captain'sNew England mind--overdone politeness, there was not so much fault to befound with his behavior or words during the interview just ended. He hadasked questions concerning the Fair Harbor, had hinted at thepossibility of its discontinuance, had more than hinted at the droppingof Kendrick as its manager. Well--always bearing in mind the fact thathe was ignorant of his wife's action which gave the Seymour house andland to the Fair Harbor and gave, not loaned, the money for itsmaintenance--bearing in mind the fact that Egbert Phillips believedhimself the absolute owner of all, with undisputed authority to do as hepleased with it--then. .. . Well, then Captain Sears was obliged to admitthat he, himself, might have questioned and hinted very much as hisvisitor had done. And as for the condescension and the "manner"--thesewere, after all, not much more than eccentricities, and developed, verylikely, during his life abroad. 

Lobelia Phillips' will would be opened and read soon, probably at once. Whew! Sears whistled as he thought of the staggering disillusionmentwhich was coming to the widower. How would he take it? Was Judge Knowlesright in his belief that the rest of the Seymour inheritance had beenwasted and lost? If so, the elegant personage who had just bowed himselfout of the Minot kitchen would be in a bad way indeed. Sears was sorryfor him. 

And yet he did not like the man. No, he did not. .. . And he did distrusthim. 

Judah came back from his sojourn at the store brimful of talk andchuckles. As he had prophesied, all Bayport had heard of the arrival ofthe great man and all Bayport was discussing him. He had the finestrooms at the Central House. He had three trunks--count them--three! Notto mention bags and a leather hat box. He had given the driver of thedepot wagon a dollar over and above his regular charge. He rememberedEliphalet Bassett the first time he saw him, and called him by name. 

There was a lot more of this, but Sears paid little attention to it. Judah summed it all up pretty well in his final declaration, given ashis lodger was leaving the kitchen for the "spare stateroom. "

"By Henry!" declared Judah, who seemed rather disgusted, "I never heardsuch a powwowin' over one man in my life. Up to 'Liphalet's 'twan'tnothin' but 'Egbert Phillips, ' 'Egbert Phillips, ' till you'd think 'twasa passel of poll-parrots all mockin' each other. Simeon Ryder had beendown to deacon's meetin' in the Orthodox vestry and, nigh's I can findout, 'twas just the same down there. 'Cordin' to Sim's tell they talkedabout the Lord's affairs for ten minutes and about this Egg man's forforty. "

"But why?" queried the captain. "He isn't the only fellow that has beenaway from Bayport and come back again. "

Mr. Cahoon shook his head. "I know it, " he admitted, "but none of therest ever had quite so much fuss made over 'em. I cal'late, maybe, it'son account of the way he's been led up to, as you might say. I went onetime to a kind of show place in New York, Barnum's Museum 'twas. Therewas a great sign outdoor sayin', 'Come on aboard and see the WhiteWhale, ' or somethin' similar. Well, I'd seen about every kind of a whale_but_ a white one, so I cal'lated maybe I'd might as well spend aquarter and see that. There was a great big kind of tank place full ofwater and a whole passel of folks hangin' around the edge of it withtheir mouths open, gawpin' at nothin'--nothin' but the water, that's allthere was to see. And a man up on a kind of platform he was preachin' asort of sermon, wavin' his arms and hollerin' about how rare and scurcewhite whales was, and how the museum folks had to scour all creationafore they got this one, and about how the round heads of Europe----"

"Crowned heads, wasn't it, Judah?"

"Hey? I don't know, maybe so. Cabbage heads it ought to have been, 'cordin' to my notion. Well, anyhow, 'twas some kind of Europe heads, and they had all pretty nigh broke the necks belongin' to 'em gettin' tosee this whale, and how lucky we was because we could see it for thesmall sum of twenty-five cents, and so on, and so on--until all hands ofus was just kind of on tiptoe, as you might say. And then, all to once, the water in the tank kind of riz up, you know, and somethin'white--might have been the broadside of a barn for all we had time tosee of it--showed for a jiffy, there was a 'Woosh, ' and the white thingwent under again. ' And that was all. The man said we was now able totell our children that we'd seen a white whale and that the critterwould be up to breathe again in about an hour, or week after next, orsome such time. .. . Anyhow, what I'm tryin' to get at is that 'twan't thewhale itself that counted so much as 'twas the way that preachin' manled up to him. This Egbert he's been preached about and guessed aboutand looked for'ard to so long that all Bayport's been on tiptoe, like usfolks around that museum tank. .. . Well, this Phillips whale has made abig 'Woosh' in town so fur. Can he keep it up? That's what I'mwonderin'. "

The sensation kept up for the next day and the next at least, and therewere no signs of its abating. Over at the Fair Harbor Captain Searsfound himself playing a very small second fiddle. Miss Snowden, Mrs. Brackett and their following, instead of putting themselves out to smileupon the captain and to chat with him, ignored him almost altogether, or, if they did speak, spoke only of Mr. Phillips. He was the mostentertaining man, _so_ genteel, his conversation was remarkable, he hadtraveled everywhere. 

Mrs. Berry, of course, was in ecstasies concerning him. He was her idealof a gentleman, she said, _so_ aristocratic. "So like the men Iassociated with in the old days, " she said. "Of course, " she added, "heis an old friend. Dear 'Belia and he were my dearest friends, you know, Captain Kendrick. "

The captain was curious to learn Elizabeth's opinion of him. He foundthat opinion distinctly favorable. 

"He is different, " she said. "Different, I mean, from any one I evermet. And at first I thought him conceited. But he isn't really, he isjust--well, different. I think I shall like him. "

Sears smiled. "If you don't you will be rather lonesome here in theHarbor, I judge, " he observed. 

She looked at him quickly. "You don't like him, do you, Cap'n Kendrick?"she said. "Why?"

"Why--why, I don't say I don't like him, Elizabeth. "

"No, you don't say it, but you look it. I didn't think you took suddendislikes, Cap'n. It doesn't seem like you, somehow. "

He could not explain, and he felt that he had disappointed her. 

On the third day the news came that Mr. Phillips had left town, gonesuddenly, so Judah said. 

"He took the afternoon train and bought a ticket for Boston, so theytell me, " declared the latter. "He's left his dunnage at the CentralHouse, so he's comin' back, I cal'late; but nobody knows where he'sgone, nor why he went. Went over to Orham this mornin'--hired ahorse-'n'-team down to the livery stable and went--come back about oneo'clock, wouldn't speak to nobody, went up to his room, never et nodinner, and then set sail for Boston on the up train. Cur'us, ain't it?Where do you cal'late likely he's gone, Cap'n Sears?"

"Give it up, Judah. And, " speaking quickly in order to head off thequestion he saw the Cahoon lips already forming, "I can't guess why he'sgone, either. "

But, although he did not say so, he could have guessed why Mr. Phillipshad gone to Orham. Bradley, the Orham lawyer, had written the day beforeto say that the will of Lobelia Phillips would be opened and read at hisoffice on Thursday morning. And this was Thursday. Bradley had suggestedSears's coming over to be present at the reading of the will. "As youare so deeply interested in the Fair Harbor, " he wrote, "I should thinkyou might--or ought to--be on hand. I don't believe Phillips willobject. "

But the captain had not accepted the invitation. Knowing, as he did, thedisappointment which was in store for Egbert, he had no wish to see theblow fall. So he remained at home, but that afternoon Bradley himselfdrove into the Minot yard. 

"I just stopped for a minute, Cap'n, he said. I had some other businessin town here; that brought me over, but I wanted to tell you that weopened that will this morning. "

Sears looked a question. "Well?" he queried. 

Bradley nodded. "It was just about as we thought, and as the judgesaid, " he declared. "The papers were there, of course, telling of thegift of the fifty thousand to the Harbor, of the gift of the land andhouse, everything. There was one other legacy, a small one, and then sheleft all the rest, 'stocks, bonds, securities, personal effects andcash' to her beloved husband, Egbert Phillips. That's all there was toit, Kendrick. Short but sweet, eh?"

Sears nodded. "Sweet enough, " he agreed. "And how did the belovedhusband take it?"

"Well . .. Well, he was pretty nasty. In fact he was about as nasty asanybody could be. He went white as a sheet and then red and then whiteagain. I didn't know, for a minute or two, what was going to happen, didn't know but what I should have a fight on my hands. However, Ididn't. I don't think he's the fighting kind, not that kind of a fight. He just took it out in being nasty. Said of course he should contest thegift, hinted at undue influence, spoke of thieves and swindlers--notnaming 'em, though--and then, when I suggested that he had better thinkit over before he said too much, pulled up short and walked out of theoffice. Yes, he was pretty nasty. But, honestly, Cap'n Kendrick, when Ithink it over, I don't know that he was any nastier than I, or any otherfellow, might have been under the circumstances. It was a smash betweenthe eyes for him, that's what it was. Met him, have you?"

"Yes. "

"What do you think of him?"

"I don't know--yet. "

"Neither do I. He's a polite chap, isn't he?"

"No doubt about that. Say, Bradley, do you think he's got much left ofthe 'stocks, bonds, ' and all the rest that the will talked about?"

"I give it up. Of course we shall talk about that by and by, I suppose, but we haven't yet. You know what Judge Knowles declared; he wasperfectly sure that there wouldn't be anything left--that this fellowand Lobelia had thrown away every loose penny of old Seymour's money. And, of course, he prophesied that this Egbert man would be back here assoon as his wife died to sell the Fair Harbor, ship and cargo, and getthe money for them. The biggest satisfaction the old judge got out oflife along toward the last of it was in knowing that he and Lobelia hadfixed things so that that couldn't be done. He certainly hated Phillips, the judge did. "

"Um-hm. But he might have been prejudiced. "

"Yes. Sometimes I wonder if he wasn't. "

"Tell me, Bradley: Did you know this Phillips man when he was skipper ofthe singin' school here in Bayport? Before he married Lobelia?"

"No. Nor I didn't meet him when he and his wife were on here the lasttime. I was up in the State House serving out my two terms as countyrepresentative. "

"I see. .. . Oh! You spoke of Lobelia's leavin' another legacy. Who wasthat to? If it isn't a secret. "

"It is, so far. But it won't be very long. She left five thousand, incash and in Judge Knowles's care, for Cordelia Berry over here at theHarbor. She and Lobelia were close friends, you know. Cordelia is tohave it free and clear, but I am to invest it for her. She doesn't knowher good luck yet. I am going over now to tell her about it. .. . Oh, bythe way, Cap'n: Judge Knowles's nephew, the man from California, isexpecting to reach Bayport next Sunday. He can't stay out a littlewhile, and so I shall have to hurry up that will and the businessconnected with it. Can you come over to my office Monday about ten?"

"Why, I suppose likely I could, but what do you want me for?"

"I don't, except in the general way of always wanting to see you, Cap'n. But Judge Knowles wanted you especially. "

"He did! Wanted _me_?"

"Yes. Seems so. He left a memorandum of those he wanted on hand when hiswill was read. You are one, and Elizabeth Berry is another. Will youcome?"

"Why--why, yes, I suppose so. But what in the world----"

"I don't know. But I imagine we'll all know Monday. I'll look for youthen, Cap'n. "

CHAPTER XI

The reading of the Knowles will, so Bradley had said, was to take placeat the lawyer's office in Orham on Monday. It was Friday when Bradleycalled at the Minot place, and on Saturday morning Sears and Elizabethdiscussed the matter. 

"Mr. Bradley said your name was on the list of those the judge asked tobe on hand when the will was read, " said the captain. "He asked me notto speak about the will to outsiders, and of course I haven't, butyou're not an outsider. You're goin' over, I suppose?"

She hesitated slightly. "Why, yes, " she said. "I think I shall. "

"Yes. Yes, I thought you would. "

"I shall go because the judge seems to have wished me to be there, butwhy I can't imagine. Can you, Cap'n Kendrick?"

Remembering his last conversation with Judge Knowles, Sears thought hemight at least guess a possible reason, but he did not say so. 

"We're both interested in the Fair Harbor, " he observed. "And we knowhow concerned the judge was with that. "

She nodded. "Yes, " she admitted. "Still I don't see why mother was notasked if that was it. You are going over, of course?"

"Why--yes, I shall. Bradley seemed to want me to. "

That was all, at the time. The next day, however, Elizabeth againmentioned the subject. It was in the afternoon, church and dinner wereover, and Sears was strolling along the path below the Fair Harborgarden plots. He could walk with less difficulty and with almost no painnow, but he could not walk far. The Eyrie was, for a wonder, unoccupied, so he limped up to it and sat down upon the bench inside torest. This was the favorite haunt of the more romantic Fair Harborinmates, Miss Snowden and Mrs. Chase especially, but they were not therejust then, although a book, _Barriers Burned Away_, by E. P. Roe, layupon the bench, a cardboard marker with the initials "E. S. " incross-stitch, between the leaves. When the captain heard a stepapproaching the summer-house, he judged that Elvira was returning toreclaim her "Barriers. " But it was not Elvira who entered the Eyrie, itwas Elizabeth Berry. 

She was surprised to see him. "Why, Cap'n Sears!" she exclaimed. "Ididn't expect to find you here. I was afraid--that is, I did ratherthink I might find Elvira, but not you. I didn't know you had the Eyriehabit. "

He smiled. "I haven't, " he said. "That is, it isn't chronic yet. Ididn't know you had it, either. "

"Oh I haven't. But I was rather tired, and I wanted to be alone, andso----"

"And so you took a chance. Well, you came at just the right time. I wasjust about gettin' under way. "

He rose, but she detained him. "Don't go, " she begged. "When I said Iwanted to be alone I didn't mean it exactly. I meant I wanted to be awayfrom--some people. You are not one of them. "

He was pleased, and showed it. "You're sure of that?" he asked. 

"Of course. You know I am. Do sit down and talk. Talk about anythingexcept--well, except Bayport gossip and Fair Harbor squabbles and billsand--oh, that sort of thing. Talk about something away from Bayport, miles and miles away. I feel just now as if I should like to be--to beon board a ship sailing . .. Sailing. "

She smiled wistfully as she said it. The captain was seized with anintense conviction that he should like to be with her on that same ship, to sail on and on indefinitely. The kind of ship or its destinationwould not matter in the least, the only essentials were that she and hewere to be on board, and . .. Humph! His brain must be softening. Whodid he think he was: a young man again?--a George Kent? He came out ofthe clouds. 

"Yes, " he observed, dryly, "I know. I get that same feelin' every oncein a while. I should rather like to walk a deck again, myself. "

She understood instantly. That was one of the fascinations of this girl, she always seemed to understand. A flash of pity came into her eyes. Impulsively she laid a hand on his coat sleeve. 

"I beg your pardon, " she said. "I'm so sorry. I realize how hard it mustbe for you, Cap'n Kendrick. A man who has been where you have been andseen what you have seen. .. . Yes, and done what you have done. "

He shrugged. "I haven't done much, " he said. 

"Oh, yes, you have. I have heard so many stories about you and yourships and the way you have handled them. There was one story I remember, a story about how your sailors mutinied and how you got them to go towork again. I heard that years ago, when I was a girl at school. I havenever forgotten; it sounded so wonderful and romantic and--and far off. "

He nodded. "It was far off, " he said. "Away over in the South Seas. Andit was a good while ago, too, for I was in command of my first vessel, and that's the time of all times when a man doesn't want mutiny or anyother setback. And I never had any trouble with my crews, before orsince, except then. But the water in our butts had gone rancid and weput in at this island to refill. It was a pretty place, lazy andsunshiny, like most of those South Sea corals, and the fo'mast hands gotashore amongst the natives, drinkin' palm wine and traders' gin, andthey didn't want to put to sea as soon as the mates and I did. "

"But you made them?"

"Well, I--er--sort of coaxed 'em into it. "

"Tell me about it, please. "

"Oh, there isn't anything to----"

"Please. "

So Sears began to spin the yarn. And from that she led him into anotherand then another. They drifted through the South Seas to the EastIndies, and from there to Bombay, and then to Hong Kong, and toMauritious, from the beaches of which came the marvelous sea shells thatSarah Macomber had in the box in her parlor closet. They voyaged throughthe Arabian Sea, with the parched desert shores shimmering in the whitehot sun. They turned north, saw the sperm whales and the great squid andthe floating bergs. .. . And at last they drifted back to Bayport and thecaptain looked at his watch. 

"Heavens and earth!" he exclaimed. "It's almost four o'clock. I believeI've talked steady for pretty nearly an hour. I'm ashamed. Are youawake, Elizabeth? I hope, for your sake, you've been takin' a nap. "

She did not answer at once. Then she breathed deeply. "I don't know whatI have been doing--really doing, " she said. "I suppose I have beensitting right here in this old summer-house. But I _feel_ as if I hadbeen around the world. I wanted to sail and sail. .. . I said so, didn'tI? Well, I have. Thank you, Cap'n Kendrick. "

He rose from the bench. 

"A man gets garrulous in his old age, " he observed. "But I didn't thinkI was as old as that--just yet. The talkin' disease must be catchin', and I've lived with Judah Cahoon quite a while now. "

She laughed. "If I had as much to talk about--worth while talkingabout--as you have, " she declared, "I should never want to stop. Well, Imust be getting back to the Fair Harbor--and the squabbles. "

"Too bad. Can I help you with 'em?"

"No, I'm afraid not. They're not big enough for you. "

They turned to the door. She spoke again. 

"You are going to drive to Orham to-morrow afternoon?" she asked. 

"Eh? Oh, yes. The Foam Flake and I will make the voyage--if we haveluck. "

"And you are going--alone?"

"Yes. Judah thinks I shouldn't. Probably he thinks the Foam Flake mayfall dead, or get to walkin' in his sleep and step off the bank orsomethin'. But I'm goin' to risk it. I guess likely I can keep him inthe channel. "

She waited a moment. Then she smiled and shook her head. 

"Cap'n, " she said, "you make it awfully hard for me. And this is thesecond time. Really, I feel so--so brazen. "

"Brazen?"

"Yes. Why don't you invite me to ride to Orham with you? Why must I_always_ have to invite myself?"

He turned to look at her. She colored a little, but she returned hislook. 

"You--you mean it?" he demanded. 

"Of course I mean it. I must get there somehow, because I promised Mr. Bradley. And unless you don't want me, in which case I shall have tohire from the livery stable, I----"

But he interrupted her. "Want you!" he repeated. "_Want_ you!"

His tone was sufficiently emphatic, perhaps more emphatic than he wouldhave made it if he had not been taken by surprise. She must have foundit satisfactory, for she did not ask further assurances. 

"Thank you, " she said. "And when are you planning to start?"

"Why--why, right after dinner to-morrow. If that's all right for you. But I'm sorry you had to invite yourself. I--I thought--well, I thoughtmaybe George had--had planned----"

To his further surprise she seemed a trifle annoyed. 

"George works at the store, " she said. "Besides, I--well, really, Cap'nKendrick, there is no compelling reason why George Kent should take meeverywhere I want to go. "

Now Sears had imagined there was--and rumor and surmise in Bayport hadlong supported his imagining--but he did not tell her that. What he didsay was inane enough. 

"Oh--er--yes, of course, " he stammered. 

"No, there isn't. He and I are friends, good friends, and have been fora long time, but that doesn't---- Well, Cap'n, I shall look for you andthe Foam Flake--oh, that _is_ a wonderful name--about one to-morrow. AndI'll promise not to keep you waiting. "

"If the Foam Flake doesn't die in the meantime I'll be on hand. He'll beasleep probably, but Judah declares he walks in his sleep, so that----Oh, heavens and earth!"

This exclamation, although but a mutter, was fervent indeed. The captainand Elizabeth had turned to the vine-shaded doorway of the Eyrie, andthere, in that doorway, was Miss Snowden and, peering around her thinshoulder, the moon face of Mrs. Chase. Sears looked annoyed, Miss Berrylooked more so, and Elvira looked--well, she looked all sorts of things. As for Aurora, her expression was, as always, unfathomable. Judah Cahoononce compared her countenance to a pink china dish-cover, and it is hardto read the emotions behind a dish-cover. 

Miss Snowden spoke first. 

"Oh!" she observed; and much may be expressed in that monosyllable. 

Elizabeth spoke next. "Your book is there on the seat, Elvira, " shesaid, carelessly. "At least I suppose it is yours. It has your bookmarkin it. "

Elvira simpered. "Yes, " she affirmed, "it is mine. But I'm not in ahurry, not a single bit of hurry. I _do_ hope we haven't _disturbed_you. "

"Not a bit, not a bit, " said Sears, crisply. "Miss Elizabeth and I werehavin' a business talk, but we had finished. The coast is clear for younow. Good afternoon. "

"You're _sure_, Cap'n Kendrick? Aurora and I wouldn't interrupt a_business_ talk for the _world_. And in such a romantic place, too. "

As Sears and Elizabeth walked up the path from the summer-house thevoice of Mrs. Chase was audible--as usual very audible indeed. 

"Elviry, " begged Aurora, eagerly, "Elviry, what did he say to you? Helooked awful kind of put out when he said it. "

The captain was "put out, " so was Elizabeth apparently. The latter said, "Oh, dear!" and laughed, but there was less humor than irritation in thelaugh. Sears's remark was brief but pointed. 

"I like four-legged cats first-rate, " he declared. 

The next day at one o'clock he and his passenger, with the placid FoamFlake as motor power, left the Fair Harbor together. And, as they droveout of the yard, both were conscious that behind the shades of thedining-room windows were at least six eager faces, and whisperingtongues were commenting, exclaiming and surmising. 

The captain, for his part, forgot the faces and tongues very quickly. Itwas a pleasant afternoon, the early fall days on the Cape are so oftenglorious; the rain of a few days before had laid the dust, at least theupper layer of it, and the woods were beginning to show the firstsprinklings of crimson and purple and yellow. The old horse walked orjogged or rambled on along the narrow winding ways, the ancient buggyrocked and rattled and swung in the deep ruts. They met almost no onefor the eight miles between Bayport and Orham--there were no roaring, shrieking processions of automobiles in those days--and when AbialGould, of North Harniss, encountered them at the narrowest section ofhighway, he steered his placid ox team into the huckleberry bushes andwaited for them to pass, waving a whip-handle greeting from his perch ontop of his load of fragrant pitch pine. The little ponds and lakes shonedeeply blue as they glimpsed them in the hollows or over the tree topsand, occasionally, a startled partridge boomed from the thicket, or aflock of quail scurried along the roadside. 

They talked of all sorts of things, mostly of ships and seas andcountries far away, subjects to which Elizabeth led the conversation andthen abandoned it to her companion. They spoke little of the Fair Harboror its picayune problems, and of the errand upon which they weregoing--the judge's will, its reading and its possible surprises--none atall. 

"Don't, " pleaded Elizabeth, when Sears once mentioned the will; "don't, please. Judge Knowles was such a good friend of mine that I can't bearto think he has gone and that some one else is to speak his thoughts andcarry out his plans. Tell me another sea story, Cap'n Kendrick. Therearen't any Elvira Snowdens off Cape Horn, I'm sure. "

So Sears spun his yarns and enjoyed the spinning because she seemed toso enjoy listening to them. And he did not once mention his crippledlimbs, or his despondency concerning the future; in fact, he pretty wellforgot them for the time. And he did not mention George Kent, a personwhom he had meant to mention and praise highly, for his unreasonableconscience had pestered him since the talk in the summer-house and, asusual, he had determined to do penance. But he forgot Kent for the time, forgot him altogether. 

Bradley's law offices occupied a one-story building on Orham's main roadnear the center of the village. There were several rigs standing at therow of hitching posts by the steps as they drove up. Sears climbed fromthe buggy--he did it much easier than had been possible a monthbefore--and moored the Foam Flake beside them. Then they entered thebuilding. 

Bradley's office boy told them that his employer and the others were inthe private room beyond. The captain inquired who the others were. 

"Well" said the boy, "there's that Mr. Barnes--he's the one fromCalifornia, you know, Judge Knowles' nephew. And Mike--Mr. Callahan, Imean--him that took care of the judge's horse and team and things; andthat Tidditt woman that kept his house. And there's Mr. Dishup, theOrthodox minister from over to Bayport, and another man, I don't knowhis name. Walk right in, Cap'n Kendrick. Mr. Bradley told me to tell youand Miss Berry to walk right in when you came. "

So they walked right in. Bradley greeted them and introduced them toKnowles Barnes, the long-looked-for nephew from California. Barnes was akeen-eyed, healthy-looking business man and the captain liked him atonce. The person whom the office boy did not know turned out to beCaptain Noah Baker, a retired master mariner, who was Grand Master ofthe Bayport lodge of Masons. 

"And now that you and Miss Berry are here, Cap'n Kendrick, " saidBradley, "we will go ahead. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the will ofour late good friend, Judge Knowles. He asked you all to be here when itwas opened and read. Mr. Barnes is obliged to go West again in a week orso, so the sooner we get to business the better. Ahem!"

Then followed the reading of the will. One by one the various legaciesand bequests were read. Some of them Sears Kendrick had expected andforeseen. Others came as surprises. He was rather astonished to findthat the judge had been, according to Cape Cod standards of that day, such a rich man. The estate, so the lawyer said, would, according toKnowles' own figures, total in the neighborhood of one hundred and fiftythousand dollars. 

Judge Knowles bequeathed:

 To the Endowment Fund of the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women $50, 000

 To the Bayport Congregational Church 5, 000

 To the Building Fund of the Bayport Lodge of Masons 5, 000

 To Emmeline Tidditt (his housekeeper) 5, 000

 To Michael Callahan (his hired man) 5, 000

 To Elizabeth Berry--in trust until she should be thirty years of age 20, 000

 Other small bequests, about 7, 000

The balance, the residue of the estate, amounting to a sum approximatingfifty-five thousand, to Henry Knowles Barnes, of San Francisco, California. 

There were several pages of carefully worded directions andinstructions. The fifty thousand for the Fair Harbor was alreadyinvested in good securities and, from the interest of these, SearsKendrick's salary of fifteen hundred a year was to be paid as long ashe wished to retain his present position as general manager. If the timeshould come when he wished to relinquish that position he was givenauthority to appoint his successor at the same salary. Or shouldCordelia Berry, at any time, decide to give up her position as matron, Kendrick and Bradley, acting together, might, if they saw fit, appoint asuitable person to act as manager _and_ matron at a suitable salary. Inthis event, of course, Kendrick would no longer continue to draw hisfifteen hundred a year. 

The reading was not without interruptions. Mr. Callahan's was the mostdramatic. When announcement was made of his five thousand dollarwindfall his Celtic fervor got the better of him and he broke loose witha tangled mass of tearful ejaculations and prayers, a curious mixture ofglories to the saints and demands for blessings upon the soul of hisbenefactor. Mrs. Tidditt was as greatly moved as he, but she had heremotions under firmer control. The Reverend Mr. Dishup was happy andgrateful on behalf of his parish, so too was Captain Baker asrepresentative of the Masonic Lodge. But each of these had been in ameasure prepared, they had been led to expect some gift or remembrance. It was Elizabeth Berry who had, apparently, expected nothing--nothingfor herself, that is. When the lawyer announced the generous bequest tothe Fair Harbor she caught her breath and turned to look at Sears withan almost incredulous joy in her eyes. But when he read of the twentythousand which was hers--the income beginning at once and the principalwhen she was thirty--she was so tremendously taken aback that, for aninstant, the captain thought she was going to faint. "Oh!" sheexclaimed, and that was all, but the color left her face entirely. 

Sears rose, so did the minister, but she waved them back. "Don't, " shebegged. "I--I am all right. .. . No, please don't speak to me for--for alittle while. "

So they did not speak, but the captain, watching her, saw that the colorcame back very slowly to her cheeks and that her eyes, when she openedthem, were wet. Her hands, clasped in her lap, were trembling. Sears, although rejoicing for her, felt a pang of hot resentment at the mannerof the announcement. It should not have been so public. She should nothave had to face such a surprise before those staring spectators. Whyhad not the judge--or Bradley, if he knew--have prepared her in somemeasure?

But when it was over and he hastened to congratulate her, she was morecomposed. She received his congratulations, and those of the others, ifnot quite calmly at least with dignity and simplicity. To Mr. Dishup andBradley and Captain Baker she said little except thanks. To Barnes, whose congratulations were sincere and hearty, and, to all appearancesat least, quite ungrudging, she expressed herself as too astonished tobe very coherent. 

"I--I can scarcely believe it yet, " she faltered. "I can't understand--Ican't think why he did it. .. . And you are all so very kind. You won'tmind if I don't say any more now, will you?"

But to Sears when he came, once more, to add another word and to shakeher hand, she expressed a little of the uncertainty which she felt. 

"Oh, " she whispered; "oh, Cap'n Kendrick, do you think it is right? Doyou think he really meant to do it? You are sure he did?"

His tone should have carried conviction. "You bet he meant it!" hedeclared, fervently. "He never meant anything any more truly; I knowit. "

"Do you? Do you really?. .. Did--did you know? Did he tell you he wasgoing to?"

"Not exactly, but he hinted. He----"

"Wait. Wait, please. Don't tell me any more now. By and by, on the wayhome, perhaps. I--I want to know all about it. I want to be sure. And, "with a tremulous smile, "I doubt if I could really understand just yet. "

The group in the lawyer's office did not break up for another hour. There were many matters for discussion, matters upon which Bradley andBarnes wished the advice of the others. Mike and Mrs. Tidditt were senthome early, and departed, volubly, though tearfully rejoicing. Theminister and Captain Noah stayed on to answer questions concerning thechurch and the lodge, the former's pressing needs and the new buildingwhich the latter had hoped for and which was now a certainty. Sears andElizabeth remained longest. Bradley whispered to the captain that hewished them to do so. 

When they were alone with him, and with Barnes of course, he took fromhis pocket two sealed letters. 

"The judge gave me these along with the will, " he said. "That was aboutthree weeks before he died. I don't know what is in them and he gave meto understand that I wasn't supposed to know. They are for you two andno one else, so he said. You are to read yours when you are alone, Cap'nKendrick, and Elizabeth is to read hers when she is by herself. And heparticularly asked me to tell you both not to make your decision tooquickly. Think it over, he said. "

He handed Sears an envelope addressed in Judge Knowles' hand-writing, and to Elizabeth another bearing her name. 

"There!" he exclaimed, with a sigh of relief. "That is done. Ever sincethe old judge left us I have been feeling as if he were standing at myelbow and nudging me not to forget. He had a will of his own, JudgeKnowles had, and I don't mean the will we have just read, either. But, take him by and large, as you sailors say, Cap'n, I honestly believe hewas the biggest and squarest man this county has seen for years. Some ofus are going to be surer of that fact every day that passes. "

It was after four when Elizabeth and Sears climbed aboard the buggy andthe captain, tugging heavily on what he termed the port rein, coaxed theunwilling Foam Flake into the channel--or the road. Heavy clouds hadrisen in the west since their arrival in Orham, the sky was covered withthem, and it was already beginning to grow dark. When they turned fromthe main road into the wood road leading across the Cape there werelighted lamps in the kitchens of the scattered houses on the outskirtsof the town. 

"Is it going to rain, do you think?" asked Elizabeth, peering at thetroubled brown masses above the tree tops. 

Sears shook his head. "Hardly think so, " he replied. "Looks more likewind to me. Pretty heavy squall, I shouldn't wonder, and maybe rainto-morrow. Come, come; get under way, Old Hundred, " addressing themeandering Foam Flake. "If you don't travel faster than this in fairweather and a smooth sea, what will you do when we have to reef? Well, "with a chuckle, "even if it comes on a livin' gale the old horse won'tblow off the course. Judah feeds him too well. Nothin' short of atyphoon could heel _him_ down. "

The prophesied gale held off, but the darkness shut in rapidly. In thelong stretches of thick woods through which they were passing it wassoon hard to see clearly. Not that that made any difference. Sears knewthe Orham road pretty well and the placid Foam Flake seemed to know itabsolutely. His ancient hoofs plodded up and down in the worn "horsepath" between the grass-grown and sometimes bush-grown ridges whichseparated it from the deep ruts on either side. Sometimes those rutswere so deep that the tops of the blueberry bushes and weeds on thoseridges scratched the bottom of the buggy. 

Beside his orders to the horse the captain had said very little sincetheir departure. He had been thinking, though, thinking hard. It wasjust beginning to dawn upon him, the question as to what this goodfortune which had befallen the girl beside him might mean, what effectit might have upon her, upon her future--and upon her relations withhim, Sears Kendrick. 

Hitherto those relations had been those of comrades, fellow workers, partners, so to speak, in an enterprise the success of which involvedcontinuous planning and fighting against obstacles. A difficult butfascinating game of itself, but one which also meant a means oflivelihood for them both. Elizabeth had drawn no salary, it is true, butwithout her help her mother could not have held her position as matron, not for a month could she have done so. It was Elizabeth who was thereal matron, who really earned the wages Cordelia received and uponwhich they both lived. And Elizabeth had told the captain that sheshould remain at the Fair Harbor and work with and for her mother aslong as the latter needed her. 

And now Sears was realizing that the necessity for either of them toremain there no longer existed. Cordelia, thanks to Mrs. Phillips'bequest, had five thousand dollars of her own. Elizabeth had, for thesix or seven years before her thirtieth birthday, an income of at leasttwelve hundred yearly. Cordelia's legacy would add several hundred tothat. If they wished it was quite possible for them to retire from theFair Harbor and live somewhere in a modest fashion upon that income. Many couples--couples esteemed by Bayporters as being in comfortablecircumstances--were living upon incomes quite as small. Sears wassuddenly brought face to face with this possibility, and was forced toadmit it even a probability. 

And he--he had no income worth mentioning. He could not go to sea againfor a long time; he did not add "if ever, " because even conservativeDoctor Sheldon now admitted that his complete recovery was but a matterof time, but it would be a year--perhaps years. And for that year, orthose years, he must live--and he had practically nothing to live uponexcept his Fair Harbor salary. And then again, as an additionalobligation, there was his promise to Judge Knowles to stick it out. Butto stick it out alone--without her!

For Elizabeth was under no obligation. She might not stay--probablywould not. She was a young woman of fortune now. She could do what sheliked, in reason. She might--why, she might even decide to marry. Therewas Kent----

At the thought Sears choked and swallowed hard. A tingling, freezingshiver ran down his spine. She would marry George Kent and he would beleft to--to face--to face---- She would marry--_she_----

The shiver lasted but a moment. He shut his teeth, blinked and cameback to the buggy seat and reality--and shame. Overwhelming, humiliatingshame. He glanced fearfully at her, afraid that she might have seen hisface and read upon it the secret which he himself had learned for thefirst time. No, she did not read it, she was not looking at him, she tooseemed to be thinking. There was a chance for him yet. He must be a man, a decent man, not a fool and a selfish beast. She did not know--and sheshould not. Then, or at any future time. 

He spoke now and hurriedly. "Well, " he began, "I suppose----"

But she had looked up and now she spoke. Apparently she had not heardhim, for she said:

"Tell me about it, Cap'n Kendrick, please. I want to hear all about it. You said you knew? You say Judge Knowles hinted that he was going to dothis--for me? Tell me all about it, please. Please. "

So he told her, all that he could remember of the judge's wordsconcerning his regard for her, of his high opinion of her abilities, ofhis friendship for her father, and of his intention to see that she was"provided for. "

"I didn't know just what he meant, of course, " he said, in conclusion, "but I guessed, some of it. I do want you to know, Elizabeth, " he added, stammering a little in his earnestness, "how glad I am for you, how_very_ glad. "

"Yes, " she said, "I do know. "

"Well, I--I haven't said much, but I _am_. I don't think I ever was moreglad, or could be. You believe that, don't you?"

She looked at him in surprise. "Why, of course I believe it, " she said. "Why do you ask that?"

"Oh, I--I don't know. I hadn't said much about it. "

"But it wasn't necessary. I knew you were glad. I know you by this time, Cap'n Kendrick, through and through. "

The same guilty shiver ran down his spine and he glanced sharply at herto see if there was any hidden meaning behind her words. But there wasnot. She was looking down again, and when she again spoke it was torepeat the question she had asked at the lawyer's office. 

"I wonder if I ought to take it?" she murmured. "Do you think it isright for me to accept--so much?

"Right!" he repeated. "Right? Of course its right. And because it isenough to amount to somethin' makes it all the more right. Judge Knowlesknew what he was doin', trust his long head for that. A little wouldonly have made things easier where you were. .. . Now, " he forced himselfto say it, "now you can be independent. "

"Independent?"

"Why, yes. Do what you like--in reason. Steer your own course. Live asyou want to . .. And where . .. And _how_ you want to. "

They were simple sentences these, but he found them hard to say. Sheturned again to look at him. 

"Why do you speak like that?" she asked. "How should I want to live?What do you mean?"

"I mean--er--you can think of your own happiness and--plans, and--allthat. You won't be anchored to the Fair Harbor, unless you want to be. You. .. . Eh? Hi! Standby! Whoa! _Whoa!_"

The last commands were roars at the horse, for, at that moment, thesquall struck. 

It came out of the blackness to the left and ahead like some enormousliving creature springing over the pine tops and pouncing upon them. There was a rumble, a roar and then a shrieking rush. The sand of theroad leaped up like the smoke from an explosion, showers of leaves andtwigs pattered sharply upon the buggy top or were thrown smartly intotheir faces. From all about came the squeaks and groans of branchesrubbing against each other, with an occasional sharp crack as a limbgave way under the pressure. 

Captain Kendrick and his passenger had been so occupied with theirthoughts and conversation that both had forgotten the heavy clouds theyhad noticed when they left Bradley's office, rolling up from the west. Then, too, the increasing darkness had hidden the sky. So the swoop ofthe squall took them completely by surprise. 

And not only them but that genuine antique the Foam Flake. Thisphlegmatic animal had been enjoying himself for the last half hour. Noone had shouted orders at him, he had not been slapped with the ends ofthe reins, no whip had been cracked in his vicinity. He had beenpermitted to amble and to walk and had availed himself of thepermission. For the most recent mile he had been, practically, asomnambulist. Now out of his dreams, whatever they may have been, camethis howling terror. He jumped and snorted. Then the wind, tearing aprickly dead branch from a scrub oak by the roadside, cast it full intohis dignified countenance. For the first time in ten years at least, theFoam Flake ran away. 

He did not run far, of course; he was not in training for distanceevents. But his sprint, although short, was lively and erratic. Hejumped to one side, the side opposite to that from which the branch hadcome, jerking the buggy out of the ruts and setting it to rocking like adory amid breakers. He jumped again, and this brought his ancientbroadside into contact with the bushes by the edge of the road. Theywere ragged, and prickly, and in violent commotion. So he jumped theother way. 

Sears, yelling Whoas and compliments, stood erect upon his newly-mendedlegs and leaned his weight backward upon the reins. If the skipper of aHudson River canal boat had suddenly found his craft deserting thewaterway and starting to climb Bear Mountain, he might have experiencedsomething of Sears' feelings at that moment. Canal boats should notclimb; it isn't done; and horses of the Foam Flake age, build andreputation should not run away. 

"Whoa! Whoa! What in thunder--?" roared the captain. "Port! Port, youlubber!"

He jerked violently on the left rein. That rein was, like the horse andthe buggy, of more than middle age. Leather of that age must bepersuaded, not jerked. The rein broke just beyond Sears' hand, flew overthe dashboard and dragged in the road. The driver's weight came solidlyupon the right hand rein. The Foam Flake dashed across the highwayagain, head-first into the woods this time. 

Then followed a few long--very long minutes of scratching and rockingand pounding. Sears heard himself shouting something about the Brokenrein he must get that rein. 

"It's all right! It's all right, Elizabeth!" he shouted. "I'm goin' tolean out over his back, if I can and--O--oh!"

The last was a groan, involuntarily wrung from him by the pain in hisknees. He had put an unaccustomed strain upon them and they wereremonstrating. He shut his teeth, swallowed another groan, and leanedout over the dash, his hand clutching for the harness of the rocketing, bumping Foam Flake. 

Then he realized that some one else was leaning over that dashboard, wasin fact almost out of the buggy and swinging by the harness and theshaft. 

"Elizabeth!" he shouted, in wild alarm. "Elizabeth, what are you doin'?Stop!"

But she was back, panting a little, but safe. 

"I have the rein, " she panted. "Give me the other, Cap'n Kendrick. I canhandle him, I know. Give me the rein. Sit down! Oh, please! You willhurt yourself again!"

But he was in no mood to sit down. He snatched the end of the brokenrein from her hand, taking it and the command again simultaneously. 

"Get back, back on the seat, " he ordered. "Now then, " addressing thehorse, "we'll see who's what! Whoa! Whoa! Steady! Come into thatchannel, you old idiot! Come _on_!"

The Foam Flake was pretty nearly ready to come by this time. AndKendrick's not too gentle coaxing helped. The buggy settled into theruts with a series of bumps. The horse's gallop became a trot, then awalk; then he stopped and stood still. 

The captain subsided on the seat beside his passenger. He relaxed histension upon the reins and the situation. 

"Whew!" he exclaimed. "That was sweet while it lasted. All right, areyou?"

She answered, still rather breathlessly, "Yes, I am all right, " shedeclared. "But you? Aren't you hurt?"

"Me? Not a bit. "

"You're sure? I was so afraid. Your--your legs, you know. "

"My legs are all serene. " They weren't, by any means, and were at thatmoment proclaiming the fact, but he did not mean she should know. "They're first-rate. .. . Well, I'm much obliged. "

"Obliged for what?"

"For that rein. But you shouldn't have climbed out that way. You mighthave broken your neck. 'Twas an awful risk. "

"You were going to take the same risk. And _I_ am not in the doctor'scare. "

"Well, you shouldn't have done it, just the same. And it was a spunkything to do. .. . But what a numbskull I was not to be on the lookout forthat squall. Humph!" with a grin, "I believe I told you even a typhooncouldn't move this horse. I was wrong, wasn't I?"

The squall had passed on, but a steady gale was behind it. And there wasa marked hint of dampness in the air. Sears sniffed. 

"And I'm afraid, too, " he said, "that I was wrong about that rain comin'to-morrow. I think it's comin' this evenin' and pretty soon, at that. "

It came within fifteen minutes, in showery gusts at first. The captainurged the Foam Flake onward as fast as possible, but that quadruped hadalready over-expended his stock of energy and shouts and slaps meantnothing to him. For a short time Sears chatted and laughed, but then herelapsed into silence. Elizabeth, watching him fearfully, caught, as thebuggy bounced over a loose stone, a smothered exclamation, first cousinto a groan. 

"I knew it!" she cried. "You _are_ hurt, Cap'n Kendrick. "

"No, no, I'm not, " hastily. "It's--it's those confounded spliced sparsof mine. They're a little weak yet, I presume likely. "

"Of course they are. Oh, I'm _so_ sorry. Won't you let me drive?"

"I should say not. I'm not quite ready for the scrap heap yet. And if Icouldn't steer this Noah's ark I should be. .. . Hello! here's anothercraft at sea. "

Another vehicle was ahead of them in the road, coming toward them. Searspulled out to permit it to pass. But the driver of the other buggyhailed as the horses' heads came abreast. 

"Elizabeth, " he shouted, "is that you?"

Miss Berry's surprise showed in her voice. 

"Why, George!" she cried. "Where in the world are you going?"

The horses stopped. Kent leaned forward. 

"Going?" he repeated. "Why, I was going after you, of course. Are youwet through?"

He seemed somewhat irritated, so the captain thought. 

"No, indeed, " replied Elizabeth. "I am all right. But why did you comeafter me? Didn't they tell you I was with Cap'n Kendrick?"

"_They_ told me--yes. But why didn't _you_ tell me you were going toOrham? I would have driven you over; you know I would. "

"You were at work at the store. "

"Well, I could have taken the afternoon off. .. . But there! no usetalking about it out here in this rain. Come on. .. . Oh, wait until Iturn around. Drive ahead a little, will you?"

This was the first time he had spoken to Sears, and even then his tonewas not too gracious. The captain drove on a few steps, as requested, and, a moment later, Kent's equipage, now headed in their direction, wasalongside once more. 

"Whoa!" he shouted, and both horses stopped. "Come on, Elizabeth, " urgedthe young man, briskly. "Wait, I'll help you. "

He sprang out of his buggy and approached theirs. "Come on, " he said, again. "Quick! It is going to rain harder. "

Elizabeth did not move. "But I'm not going with you, George, " she saidquietly. 

He stared at her. 

"Not going with me?" he repeated. "Why, of course you are. I've come onpurpose for you. "

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have done it. You knew I would be all rightwith Cap'n Kendrick. "

"I didn't even know you were going with him. You didn't say you weregoing at all. If you had I----"

"You would have taken another afternoon's holiday. And you know what Mr. Bassett said about the last one. "

"I don't care a--I don't care what he says. I shan't be working verylong for him, I hope. .. . But there, Elizabeth! Come on, come on! I canget you home for supper while that old horse of Cahoon's is thinkingabout it. "

But still she did not move. Sears thought that, perhaps, he should takea hand. 

"Go right ahead, Elizabeth, " he said. "George is right about thehorses. "

"Of course I am. Come, Elizabeth. "

"No, I shall stay with Cap'n Kendrick. He has been kind enough to takeme so far and we are almost home. You can follow, George, and we'll getthere together. "

"Well, I like that!" exclaimed Kent. But he did not speak as if he likedit. "After I have taken the trouble----"

"Hush! Don't be silly. The cap'n has taken a great deal of trouble, too. .. . No, " as Sears began to protest, "you can't get rid of me, Cap'nKendrick. "

"But, Elizabeth----"

"No. Do you suppose I am going to leave you--in pain--and. .. . Drive on, please. George can follow us. "

"But I'm all right, good land knows! The Foam Flake won't try to flyagain. And really, I----"

"Drive on, please. "

So he drove on; there seemed to be nothing else to do. It did not helphis feelings to hear, as George Kent was left standing in the road, adisgusted and profane ejaculation from that young gentleman. 

The remainder of the journey was quickly made. There was littleconversation. The rain, the wind, and the sounds of the horses' hoofsand the rattle of the buggies--for Kent's was close behind all theway--furnished most of the noise. 

Judah was waiting when they came into the yard of the Minot place. Heand Elizabeth helped Sears from the buggy. The captain, in spite of hisprotestations, could scarcely stand. Kent, because Elizabeth asked himto, assisted in getting him into the kitchen and the biggest rockingchair. 

"Now go . .. Go, " urged Sears. "I'm just a little lame, that's all, andI'll be all right by to-morrow. Go, Elizabeth please. Your supper iswaitin' as it is. Now go. "

She went, but rather reluctantly. "I shall run over after supper to seehow you are, " she declared. "Thank you very much for taking me to Orham, Cap'n. "

"Thank you for--for a whole lot of things. And don't you dream of comin'over again to-night. There's no sense in it, is there, George?"

If Kent heard he did not answer. His "good night" was brief. Sears didnot like it, nor the expression on his face. This was a new side of theyoung fellow's character, a side the captain had not seen before. Andyet--well, he was young, very young. Sears was troubled about theaffair. Had he been to blame? He had not meant to be. Ah-hum! the worldwas full of misunderstandings and foolishness. And was there, in allthat world, any being more foolish than himself?

Just here, Judah, having returned from stabling the Foam Flake, rushedinto the kitchen to demand answers to a thousand questions. For the nexthour there was no opportunity for moralizing or melancholy. 

CHAPTER XII

Elizabeth did not visit the Minot place that evening, as she had saidshe meant to do. It may be that Sears was a trifle disappointed, buteven he would have been obliged to confess that that particular eveningwas not the time for him to receive callers. He ate his supper--a verysmall portion of the meal which Judah had provided for him--and, soonafterward, retired to the spare stateroom and bed. Undressing was amartyrdom, and he had hard work to keep back the groans which the painin his legs tempted him to utter. There was no doubt that he had twistedthose shaky limbs of his more than he realized. He had wrenched themseverely, how severely he scarcely dared think. But they forced him tothink all that night, and the next morning Judah insisted on going forthe doctor. 

Doctor Sheldon examined the "spliced timbers, " fumed and scolded a gooddeal, but at last grudgingly admitted that no irreparable harm had beendone. 

"You're luckier than you deserve, Cap'n, " he declared. "It's a wonderyou aren't ruined altogether. Now you stay right in that bed until Itell you to get up. And that won't be to-day, or to-morrow either. Perhaps the day after that--well, we'll see. But those legs of yoursneed absolute rest. Judah, you see that they get it, will you? If hetries to get up you knock him back again. Those are orders. Understand?"

"Aye, aye, sir, " replied Judah, promptly. "I'll have a handspike handy. He won't turn out, I'll see to it. "

Sears' protestations that he couldn't waste time in bed, that he had toomany important things to attend to, went for nothing. According toSheldon and Judah his legs were the only things of real importance justthen and they needed absolute rest. Down inside him the captain realizedthat this was true, and so grumblingly resigned himself to the two daysof imprisonment. With the most recent issues of the _Cape Cod Item_ andone or two books from the shelves in the sitting room closet, books ofthe vintage of the '40's and '50's, but fortunately of a strong seaflavor, he endeavored to console himself, while Judah attended to thehousehold duties or went down town on errands. 

Elizabeth called that first forenoon, but did not see him. The doctorhad warned Judah to head off visitors. "They may not do any harm, butthey certainly won't do any good, and I want him to have absolute rest, "said Sheldon. So Judah guarded the outer portal, and, when he went out, hung up a warning placard. "OUT. NO ADMITENTS. DOORS LOKED. KEY UNDERMAT. " The information concerning the key was for the doctor's benefit. 

But Elizabeth sent her good wishes and sympathy. So did her mother. So, too, did Esther Tidditt, and Miss Snowden, and Miss Peasley, and in factall the Fair Harbor inmates. For the first day Mr. Cahoon was kept busytransmitting messages to the spare stateroom. 

But about this time Bayport began to rock with a new series ofsensations and, except by the very few, Captain Kendrick was forgotten. The news of Judge Knowles' various legacies became known and spreadthrough the village like fire in a patch of dead weeds. The Fair Harborsat up nearly all of one night discussing and commenting upon the goodfortune which had befallen the Berrys. And by no means all of the timewas used in congratulations. 

"Humph!" sniffed Susanna Brackett, her lips squeezed so tightly togetherthat her mustache stood on end. "Humph!"

Miss Snowden nodded. "Of course, " she said, "I'm not a person to hint, or anything of that sort. But--_but_ if somebody'll tell me _why_ thejudge left all that money to her I should like to hear 'em. "

Mrs. Brackett opened her lips sufficiently to observe that so shouldshe. "Of course, " she added, "the five thousand that Lobelia leftCordelia might have been expected, they was real friendly always. Butwhy did Judge Knowles leave it all to Elizabeth and not one cent to hermother? _That_ I _can't_ understand. "

Miss Peasley smiled. "We used to wonder why Elizabeth kept runnin' tothe judge's all the time, " she said. "He was sick and feeble and wethought 'twas queer her pesterin' him so. _Now_--well, it pays to hangaround sick folks, don't it? They're easier to coax, maybe, than thewell kind. .. . Course I ain't sayin' there was any coaxin' done. "

Little Mrs. Tidditt's feathers had begun to rise. "Oh, no!" she snapped. "You ain't _sayin'_ anything, any of you. Judge Knowles was businesshead of this--this old cats' home afore he app'inted Cap'n Kendrick tothe job, and you know that. Elizabeth _had_ to go to him about all sortsof money matters, and you know that, too. As for her tryin' to coax himto leave her money, that's just rubbish. He always liked her, thoughtthe world of her ever since she was a little girl, and he left her thetwenty thousand because of that and for no other reason. That's why _I_think he left it to her; but, if some of the rest of you would be bettersatisfied, I'll tell her what you say--or _ain't_ sayin', Desire--andlet her answer it herself. "

This not being at all what Miss Peasley and the others wished, no morewas said about undue influence at the time. But much was said at timeswhen the pugnacious Esther was not present, and there was markedspeculation concerning what Miss Berry would do with her money, what Mr. Phillips would do when he returned to Bayport, whether or not CordeliaBerry would continue to be matron at the Harbor, and what SearsKendrick's plans for the future might be. 

"Of course, " said Mrs. Brackett, "the judge fixed it so he would get hisfifteen hundred so long as he stays manager. But will he stay long?There's Mr. Phillips to be considered now, I should think. _He'll_ havesomethin' to say about the--er--retreat his wife founded, won't he?"

Mrs. Constance Cahoon made a remark. 

"George Kent'll come in for a nice windfall some of these days, it lookslike, " she observed, significantly. "What makes you look so funny, Elviry?"

Miss Snowden smiled. "Will he?" she inquired. 

"Well, won't he? When he marries Elizabeth----"

"Yes. Yes, _when_ he does. "

"Well, he's goin' to, ain't he? Why, he's been keepin' comp'ny with herfor two years. Everybody cal'lates they're engaged. "

"Yes. But _they_ don't say they are. .. . Oh, what is it Aurora?"

Mrs. Chase, who had been listening with her hand at her ears, had caughta little of the conversation. 

"If you mean her and George Kent is engaged, Constance, " she declared, "they ain't. I asked Elizabeth if they was, myself, asked her much as amonth ago, and she said no. Pretty nigh took my head off, too. "

Elvira's smile broadened. She nodded, slowly and with mysterioussignificance. "I'm not so sure about that engagement, " she observed. "Some things I've seen lately have set me to thinking. To thinking agood deal. .. . Um . .. Yes. It looks to me as if somebody--_somebody_, Imention no names--may have had a hint of what was coming and began tolay plans according. .. . No, I shan't say any more--now. And I give inthat it seems too perfectly ridiculous to believe. But things like thatsometimes do happen, and . .. Well, we'll wait and see. "

Happy in the knowledge that she had aroused curiosity as well as envy ofher superior knowledge, she subsided. Mrs. Tidditt concluded thatportion of the discussion. 

"Well, " she remarked, crisply, "I don't see why we need to sit heretalkin' about engagements or folks' gettin' married. Nobody has shownany symptoms of wantin' to marry any of _this_ crowd, so far as I canmake out. "

While the town was at the very height of its agitation concerning theKnowles will, there came another earthquake. Egbert Phillips returned. He alighted from the train at the Bayport depot on the second morning ofSears's imprisonment in the spare stateroom and before night theinformation that he imparted--confidentially, of course--and the hintshe gave concerning his plans for the future, made the Berry legacies andall the other legacies take second place as gossip kindlers. 

Judah came rushing into the house later that afternoon, his arms full ofbundles--purchases at Eliphalet's store--and his mouth full of words. Hedropped everything, eggs, salt fish, tea and shoe laces, on the kitchentable and tore pell-mell into his lodger's bedroom. Captain Kendrick, propped up with pillows, was of course stretched out in bed. There waswhat appeared to be a letter in his hand, a letter apparently justreceived, for a recently opened envelope lay on the comforter besidehim, and upon his face was an expression of bewilderment, surprise andmarked concern. Judah was too intent upon his news to notice anythingelse and Sears hastily gathered up letter and envelope and thrust thembeneath the pillow. Then Judah broke loose. 

Egbert had come back, had come back to Bayport to live, for good. He hadcome on the morning train. Lots of folks saw him; some of them hadtalked with him. "And what do you cal'late, Cap'n Sears? You'll neverguess in _this_ world! By the crawlin' prophets, he swears he ain'trich, the way all hands figured out he was. No, sir, he ain't! 'Cordin'to his tell he ain't got no money at all, scarcely. All them stocksand--and bonds and--and securitums and such like have gone on the rocks. They was unfort'nate infestments, he says. He says he's in straightenedout circumstances, whatever they be, but he's come back here to spendhis declinin' days--that's what Joe Macomber says he called 'em, hisdeclinin' days--in Bayport, 'cause he loves the old place, 'count ofLobelia, his wife, lovin' it so, and he can maybe scratch along here onwhat income he's got, and--and----"

And so on, for sentence after sentence. Sears heard some of it, but notall. The letter he had just read--the letter from Judge Knowles whichBradley had handed him before he left Orham--was of itself too startlingand disturbing to be dismissed from his thoughts; but he heard some, enough to make him realize that there might be, in all probability was, trouble ahead. Just why Phillips had returned to Bayport, to take up hisabode there permanently, was hard to understand, but there certainlymust be some reason beside his "love" for the place and its people. Neither place nor people should, so it seemed to the captain, appealstrongly to a citizen of the world, of the fashionable world, like Mr. Egbert Phillips. It is true that he might perhaps live cheaper therethan in most communities, but still. .. . No, Sears was sure that theformer singing teacher had returned to the Cape in pursuance of a plan. What that plan might be he could not guess, unless the widowercontemplated contesting his wife's gift to the Fair Harbor. That wouldbe a losing fight, was certain to be, for Judge Knowles had seen tothat. But if not that--what?

He gave very little thought to the matter at the time, for JudgeKnowles' letter and its astounding proposition were monopolizing hismental machinery. That letter would have, as he might have expressed it, knocked him on his beam ends even if the Foam Flake's unexpectedoutbreak had not knocked him there already. The letter was rather long, but it was to the point, nevertheless. Judge Knowles begged him--him, Sears Kendrick--to accept the appointment of trustee in charge ofElizabeth Berry's twenty thousand dollar inheritance. The latter washers in trust until she was thirty. 

"I have seen enough of you to believe in you, Kendrick, " so the judgehad written. "Besides, you know the Berrys, mother and daughter, by thistime, better than any one else--even Bradley--and you know my opinion ofCordelia's headpiece. I don't want her soft-headedness or foolishness toget any of Elizabeth's money away from her. Elizabeth is a dutifuldaughter and an unselfish girl and she may feel--or be led tofeel--that her mother ought to have this money or a large part of it. Idon't want this to happen. Of course I expect Elizabeth to share herincome with her mother, but I don't want the principal disturbed. Aftershe is thirty she can, of course, do what she likes with it, but thattime isn't now by some years. And then there is that Egbert. Look outfor him. I say again, look out for him. If _he_ ever got a penny of thismoney I should turn over in my grave. Perhaps you think I am an old fooland am treating him with more seriousness than he deserves. You won'tthink so when you know him as well as I do, mark my words. And I thinkyou are the one man around here that has had worldly experience enough, backed by brains and common-sense, to see through him and handle him. Idon't mean that there aren't other smart men in town, but most of thesmartest are in active service and at sea a good share of the time. Youwill be right here for a few years at least. And you are honest, and youlike Elizabeth Berry, and will look out for her interests. .. . Of courseI can't compel you to take this trusteeship, but I hope you will, as afavor to her and to me. I have written her a letter similar to this, butI have left her a free choice in the matter. If she does not want youfor her trustee then that ends it. Being the kind of girl she is, Ithink she will be mighty glad to have you. .. . "

And this was the proposition which was causing the captain so muchanxiety and perplexity. It interfered with the sleep which DoctorSheldon seemed to feel necessary to his patient's complete recovery fromthe setback. It prevented his keeping those damaged legs of hisabsolutely quiet. Time and time again Judah, at work in what he alwaysreferred to as the "galley, " heard his lodger tossing about in the sparestateroom and occasionally muttering to himself. 

For Sears, facing the problem of accepting or declining the trust, wasquite aware that the dilemma upon which the judge had perched him hadtwo very sharp horns. If he declined--always of course supposing thatElizabeth Berry asked him to accept--if he declined he would be actingcontrary to her wishes and Judge Knowles'. If he did decline, thenBradley would be the trustee. Knowles, in a part of the letter notquoted, had said that he imagined that would have to be the alternative. And Bradley--a good man, an honest and capable man--was not a residentof Bayport and could not, as he could, keep an eye upon the Berrys norupon those who might try to influence them. And Bradley did not knowBayport as he, Kendrick, did. 

But on the other hand, suppose Elizabeth begged him to take thetrusteeship and he did take it? To begin with, he dreaded the addedresponsibility and distrusted his ability to handle investments. Hisrecord as a business man ashore was brief enough and not of a kind toinspire self-confidence. And what would people say concerning it andhim? He and Elizabeth were in daily contact. Their association in themanagement of the Fair Harbor was close already. If he should be givencharge of her fortune--for it was a fortune, in Bayport eyes--would nothis every action be liable to misconstruction? Would not maliciousgossip begin to whisper all sorts of things? To misconstrue motives and. .. ? Perhaps they were already whispering. He had seen Elvira Snowdenbut once since she and Mrs. Chase surprised him and Elizabeth in theEyrie, but on that one occasion Elvira had, so it seemed to him, lookedqueer--and knowing. It was foolish, of course; it was ridiculous, andwicked. He and Elizabeth were friendly, had come to be very good friendsindeed, but----

And here his train of thought stopped dead, while the same guilty shiverhe had before felt ran up and down his spine. .. . Good Lord above! _what_was he thinking of? What could be the matter with him? Why, even ifthings were as they had been he would be crazy to. .. . And now she was arich woman, rich compared to him, at least. 

No! And over and over again, No! He would decline the trusteeship. Andhe would make it his business to get well and to sea again as soon aspossible. As soon as she came to him to mention the judge's letter andits insane request he would settle that proposal once and for all. 

But she did not come. On the third day the doctor refused to permit himto leave the bed. 

"You stay where you are for another two days, " commanded Sheldon. "Itwill do you good, and while I'm boss you shan't take chances. Cahoon andI have got you where we want you now and we'll keep you there till wepipe you on deck. Eh, Judah?"

Judah grinned. "Aye, aye, " was his rejoinder. "Got the handspike readyto my fist, Doctor. He'll stay put if I have to lash him to the bunkwith a chain cable. It's all for your good, Cap'n Sears. That's what myma used to tell me when she dosed me up every spring with brimstone andmolasses. "

So, reluctantly realizing that it was for his good, Sears "stayed put. "He had a few callers, although Judah saw to it that their calls werebrief. Elizabeth was not one of these. She came at least once a day toinquire about him, but she did not ask to see him. The captain, tryingnot to be disappointed, endeavored to console himself with the idea thatshe was following Judge Knowles' advice, as repeated by Bradley, andmeant to take plenty of time before making up her mind concerning thetrusteeship. 

One of his visitors was George Kent. On the fourth day, on his way tothe Macombers for dinner, the young fellow called at the Minot place. Judah was out, but Sears heard his visitor's voice and step through theopen doors of the dining room and kitchen and shouted to him to come in. His manner when he entered was, so it seemed to the captain, a trifleconstrained, but his inquiries concerning the latter's health werecordial enough. As for Sears, he, of course, made it a point to beespecially cordial. 

They talked of many things, but not of their recent encounter on theOrham road. Sears did not like to be the first to mention it and itappeared as if Kent wished to avoid it altogether. But at last, after ashort interval of silence, a break in the conversation, he did refer toit. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " he said, reddening and looking rather nervous anduncomfortable, "I--I suppose you thought I was--was pretty disagreeablethe other evening. I mean when we met in the rain and Elizabeth was withyou. "

"Eh? Disagreeable?"

"Yes. I wasn't very pleasant, I know. I'm sorry. That--that was one ofthe things I came to say. I lost my temper, I guess. "

"Well, if you did I don't know as I blame you, George. A night like thatis enough to lose any one's temper. I lost mine. The Foam Flake ran awaywith it. But he's repentin' in sackcloth and ashes, I guess. Judah saysthe old horse is lamer than I am. "

He laughed heartily. Kent's laugh was short. His uneasiness seemed toincrease. 

"Yes, " he said, returning to the subject which was evidently uppermostin his mind. "Yes, I did--er--lose my temper, perhaps. But--but it seemsalmost as if I had a--er--well, some excuse. You see--well, you see, Cap'n Kendrick, I didn't like it very much, the idea of Elizabeth'sgoing over to Orham with--with you, you know. "

Sears looked at him in surprise. "Why, she went with me because it wasthe simplest way to get there, " he explained. "I was goin' anyhow, andBradley had asked her to be there, too. So, it was natural enough thatwe should go together. "

"Well--well, I don't see why she didn't tell me she was going. "

"Perhaps she didn't think to tell you. "

"Nonsense!. .. I mean. .. . Well, anyhow, if she had told me I should havelooked out for her, of course. I could have hired a rig and driven herover. "

"But she knew you were at work down at the store. She said that, didn'tshe? Seems to me I remember hearin' her say that she didn't want youto--to feel that you must take the afternoon off on her account. "

The young man stirred impatiently. "That's foolishness, " he declared. "She seems to think Bassett has a mortgage on my life. He hasn't, not bya long shot. I don't mean to keep his books much longer; I've got otherthings to attend to. My law is getting on pretty well. "

"Glad to hear it, George. "

"Yes. I shall read with Bradley for a while longer, of course, but afterthat--well, I don't know. I was talking with--with a man who has had agood deal of experience with lawyers--real city lawyers, not theone-horse sort--and he says the thing for an ambitious young fellow todo is to get into one of those city offices. Then you have a chance. "

"Oh--I see. But isn't it kind of hard to get in, unless you have someacquaintance or influence?"

"I don't know as it is. And I guess this man will help me if I want himto. "

"So? That's good. Did he say he would?"

"No-o, not exactly, but I think he will. And he's got the acquaintances, all right enough. He knows almost everybody that's worth while. "

"That's the kind to tie to. Who is he? Somebody up in Boston?"

George shifted again. "I'd rather not mention his name just now, " hesaid. "Our talks have been rather--er--confidential and I don't knowthat I should have said anything about them. But I've got plans, yousee. Then there is my aunt's estate. I am the administrator of that. "

"Oh? I didn't know. Your aunt, eh?"

"Yes, my Aunt Charlotte, mother's sister. She was single and lived up inMeriden, Connecticut. She died about a month ago and left everything tomy half-sister and me--my married sister in Springfield, you know. Ihave charge of--of the estate, settling it and all that. "

Sears smiled inwardly at the self-satisfaction with which the word"estate" was uttered. But outwardly he was serious enough. 

"Good for you, George!" he exclaimed. "Congratulations. I hope you'vecome in for a big thing. "

His visitor colored slightly. "Well--well, of course, " he admitted, "theestate isn't very large, but----"

"But it's an estate. I'm glad for you, son. "

"Yes--er--yes. .. . But really, Cap'n, I didn't mean to talk about that. I--I just wanted to say that--that I was sorry if I--er--wasn't aspolite as I might have been the other night, and--well, I thought--itseemed as if I--I ought to say--to say----"

Whatever it was it seemed to be hard to say. The captain tried to help. 

"Yes, of course, George, " he prompted. "Heave ahead and say it. "

"Well--well, it's just this, Cap'n Kendrick: Elizabeth and you are--aretogether a good deal, in the Fair Harbor affairs, you know, and--and--she doesn't think, of course--and you _are_ a lot older thanshe is--but all the same----"

Sears interrupted. 

"Here! Hold on, George!" he put in, sharply. "What's all this?"

Kent's embarrassment increased. "Why--why, nothing, " he stammered. "Nothing, of course. But you see, Cap'n, people are silly--they don'tstop to count ages and things like that. They see you with her somuch. .. . And when they see you taking her to ride--alone----"

"Here! That'll do!" All the cordiality had left the captain's voice. "George, " he said, after a moment, "I guess you'd better not say anymore. I don't think I had better hear it. Miss Elizabeth is a friend ofmine. She is, as you say, years younger than I am. I _am_ with her agood deal, have to be because of our Fair Harbor work together. I tookher to Orham with me just as I'd take her mother, or you, or any otherfriend who had to go and wanted a lift. But--_but_ if you or any oneelse is hintin' that. .. . There, there! George, don't be foolish. Maybeyou'd better run along now. The doctor says I mustn't get excited. "

His visitor looked remarkably foolish, but the stubbornness had notaltogether left his face or tone as he said: "Well, that's all right, Cap'n. I knew you would understand. _I_ didn't mean anything, but--but, you see, in Elizabeth's case I feel a--a sort of responsibility. You--you understand. "

Even irritated and angry as he was, Sears could not help smiling at thelast sentence. 

"George, " he observed, "you've been fairly open and aboveboard in yourremarks to me. Suppose I ask you a question. Just what _is_ yourresponsibility in the case? I have heard said, and more than once, thatyou and Elizabeth Berry are engaged to be married. Is it so?"

The young man grew redder yet, hesitated, and turned to the door. 

"I--I'm not at liberty to say, " he declared. 

"Wait! Hold on! There is this responsibility business. If you're notengaged--well, honestly, George, I don't quite see where yourresponsibility comes in. "

Kent hesitated a moment longer. Then he seemed to make up his mind. 

"Well, then, we are--er--er--practically, " he said. 

"Practically?. .. Oh! Well, I--I certainly do congratulate you. "

George had his hand on the latch, but turned back. 

"Don't--please don't tell any one of it, " he said earnestly. "It--itmustn't be known yet. .. . You see, though, why I--I feel as if you--as ifwe all ought to be very careful of--of appearances--and--and suchthings. "

"Yes. .. . Yes, of course. Well, all right, George. Good-by. Call again. "

Judah, who had been over at the Fair Harbor doing some general choresaround the place, came in a little later. His lodger called to him. 

"Judah, " he commanded, "come in here. I want to talk to you. " When Mr. Cahoon obeyed the order, he was told to sit down a moment. 

"I want to ask you some questions, " said the captain. "What is thelatest news of Egbert Phillips? Where is he nowadays? And what is hedoin'?"

Judah was quite ready to give the information, even eager, but hehesitated momentarily. 

"Sure you want me to talk about him, Cap'n?" he asked. "Last time I saidanything about him--day afore yesterday 'twas--you told me to shut up. Said you had somethin' more important to think about. "

"Did I, Judah? Well, 'twas true then, I guess. "

"Um-hm. And you ordered me not to mention his name again till youh'isted signals, or somethin' like that. "

"Yes, seems to me I did. Well, the signals are up. What is he doin'?"

"Doin'? He ain't doin' nothin'--much. He's roomin' up to the CentralHouse yet, but from what I hear tell he ain't goin' to stay there. He'scal'latin', so the folks down to the store say, to find some nice homeplace where he can board. He don't call it boardin'. Thoph Black says hesaid what he wanted was a snug little den where him and his fewremainin' household gods could be together. Thoph said he couldn't makeout what household gods was, and I'm plaguey sure _I_ can't. Soundsheathenish to me. And I told Thoph, says I, 'That ain't no way to hunt aboardin' house, goin' round hollerin' for a den. If I was takin' inboarders and a feller hove alongside and says, "Can I hire one of themdens of yours?" he'd get somethin' that he wan't lookin' for. ' Huh! Den!Sounds like a circus menagerie, don't it? Not but what I've seenboardin'-house rooms that was like dens. Why, one time, over inLiverpool 'twas, me and a feller named----"

"Yes, yes, all right, Judah. I've heard about it. But what else is hedoin'? Where does he go? Is he makin' friends? Is he talkin' much abouthis plans? What do folks say about him?"

Judah answered the last question first. 

"They like him, " he declared. "All hands are so kind of sorry for him, you see. Course we all cal'lated he was rich, but he ain't. And thembonds and such that him and his wife had all went to nawthin' and hecome back here after she died, figgerin', I presume likely, same asanybody would, that he owned the Fair Harbor property and that the fiftythousand was just a sort of--er--loan, as you might say. He told JoeMacomber--or George Kent, I forget which 'twas--he's with Georgeconsider'ble; I guess likely 'twas him--that, of course, he wouldn'thave disturbed the property or the fifty thousand for the world, not fora long spell anyhow, but ownin' it give him a feelin' of security, likean anchor to wind'ard, you understand, and----"

"So folks like him, do they?"

"You bet you they do. He don't complain a mite, that's one reason theylike him. Says at first, of course, he was kind of took all aback withhis canvas flappin', but now he's thought it over and realizes 'twas hisdear wife's notion and her wishes is law and gospel to him, so he'sresigned. "

"And he doesn't blame anybody, then?"

Mr. Cahoon hesitated. "Why--er--no, not really, fur's I hear. Anyhow, ifthere was any influence used same as it shouldn't be, he says, heforgives them that used it. And, so far as that goes, he don't repute noevil motives to nobody, livin' or dead. "

"Repute? Oh, impute, you mean. "

"I guess so, some kind of 'pute'. He uses them old-fashioned kind ofwords all the time. That's why he's so pop'lar amongst the ShakespeareReadin' Society and the rest. _They've_ took him up, I tell ye! MinisterDishup and his wife they've had him to dinner, and Cap'n Elkanah and hiswife have had him to supper and yesterday noon he was up here to theHarbor for dinner. "

"Oh, was he?"

"Yus. He made 'em a little speech, too. All hands came into the parlorafter dinner and he kind of--of preached to 'em. Told about histravelin' in foreign lands and a lot about Lobelia and how she loved theHarbor and everybody in it, and how him and her used to plan for it, andthe like of that. Desire Peasley told me that 'twas the most movin' talkever _she_ listened to. Said about everybody was cryin' some. 'Twas aleaky session, I judged. Oh, they love him over to the Harbor, I tellyou!"

The captain was silent for a moment. Then he asked, "Did I understandyou to say he and young Kent were friendly?"

"Yes, indeed. He seems to have took quite a fancy to George. Drops in tosee him at the store and last night he went home along with him to yoursister's--to Sary's. Had supper and spent the evenin', I believe. "

Judah was dismissed then and the talk ended, but Sears had now somethingelse to think about. There was little doubt in his mind who the "man ofexperience" was, the person who had advised Kent concerning the gettingof a position with a law firm in the city. He wondered what otheradvice might have been given. Was it Mr. Phillips who had suggestedto Kent the impropriety of Elizabeth's being seen so much inhis--Kendrick's--company? If so, why had he done it? What was Egbert'slittle plan?

Of course it was possible that there was no plan of any kind. Sears hadtaken a dislike to Phillips when they met and that fact, and JudgeKnowles' hatred of the man, might, he realized, have set him to huntingmares' nests. Well, he would not hunt any more at present. He wouldawait developments. But he would not lie in that bed and wait for them. He had been there long enough. In spite of Judah's protests and with thelatter's help, commandeered and insisted upon, he got up, dressed, andspent the rest of that afternoon and evening in the rocking chair in thekitchen. 

And that evening Elizabeth came to see him. He was almost sure why shehad come, and as soon as she entered, sent Judah down town after smokingtobacco. Judah declared there was "up'ards of ha'f a plug aboard theship somewheres" and wanted to stay and hunt for it, but the captain, who had the plug in his pocket, insisted on his going. So he went andSears and Elizabeth were alone. He was ready for the interview. If sheasked him to accept the trusteeship of her twenty thousand dollars hemeant to refuse, absolutely. 

And she did ask him that very thing. After inquiries concerning hisinjured limbs and repeated cautions concerning his never taking suchrisks again, "even with the old Foam Flakes, " she came directly to thesubject. She spoke of Judge Knowles' letter to her, the letter whichBradley had handed her at the time when he gave Sears his. She had readit over and over again, she said. 

"You know what he wrote me, Cap'n Kendrick, " she went on. "I can't showyou the letter, it is too personal, too--too. .. . Oh, I can't show it toany one--now, not even to mother. But you must know what he asked--orsuggested, because he says he has written you a letter asking you totake charge of my money for me, to be my trustee. I suppose you mustthink it queer that I have let all these days go by without coming tospeak with you about it. I hope----"

He interrupted. "Now, Elizabeth, before we go any further, " he said, earnestly, "don't you suppose any such thing. The judge wrote me he hadasked us both not to decide in a hurry, but to take plenty of time tothink it over. I have thought it over, in fact, I haven't thought ofmuch else since I opened that letter, and I have made up my mind----"

"Wait. Please wait a minute. I haven't been taking time to think overthat at all. I have been thinking about the whole matter; whether Ishould accept the money--so very, very, very much money----"

"What! Not accept it? Of course you'll take it. He wanted you to takeit. It was what he wanted as much as anybody could want anything. Why, don't you dare----"

"Hush! hush! You mustn't be so excited. And you mustn't move from thatchair. If you do I shall go home this minute. I am going to accept themoney. "

"Good! Of course you are. "

"Yes, I am. Because I do believe that he wanted me to have it so much. Iknow people will say--perhaps they are already saying all sorts ofwicked, mean things. I don't--I won't let myself think what some of themmay be saying about my influencing the judge, or things like that. But Idon't care--that is, I care ever so much more for what _he_ said andwhat he wished. And he wanted you to take care of the money for me. Youwill, won't you, Cap'n Kendrick?"

Now it was Sears' turn. He had gone over a scene like this, the scenewhich he had foreseen, many times. He was kind, but he was firm. He toldher that he should not accept the trusteeship. He could not. It was toogreat a responsibility for a man with as little--and that littleunfortunate--business experience as he had had. 

"It needs a banker or a lawyer for that job, Elizabeth, " he declared. "What does a sailor know about handlin' money? You go to Bradley;Bradley's the man. "

But she did not want Bradley. The judge only mentioned Bradley as secondchoice. 

"He wanted you, Cap'n Kendrick. He had every confidence in you. Youshould see what he says about your ability and common-sense and--andhonesty in the letter. Please. "

"No, Elizabeth. As far as honesty goes I guess he's right. I am honest, at least I hope I should be. But for the rest--he's partial there. Heseemed to take a fancy to me, and goodness knows I liked him. But youmustn't feel you've got to do this thing. He wrote me it was only asuggestion. You are absolutely free--he wrote me so--to go to Bradleyor----"

"No. " She rose to her feet. "I shan't go to Bradley or anybody but you. I am like him, Cap'n Kendrick; I trust you. I have come to know you andto believe in you. I like you. Why, you don't know how glad I was tofind that he wanted you to do this for me. Glad! I--I felt----"

"Why, Elizabeth!"

He had not meant to speak. The words were forced from him involuntarily. Her tone, her eyes, the eager earnestness in her voice. .. . He did notsay any more, nor did he look at her. Instead he looked at the patchworkcomforter which had fallen from his knees to the floor, and ferventlyhoped that he had not already said too much. He stooped and picked upthe comforter. 

"And you will do it for me, won't you?" she pleaded. 

"I can't. It wouldn't be right. "

"Then I shall not take the money at all. _He_ gave it to me, _he_ askedme--the very last thing he asked was that you should do it. He put thetrust in your hands. And you won't do it--for him--or for me?"

"Well, but--but---- Oh, good Lord! how can I?"

"Why can't you?"

The real reason he could not tell her. According to Kent--whetherinspired by Phillips or not made little difference--people were alreadywhispering and hinting. How much more would they hint and whisper ifthey knew that he had taken charge of her money? The thought had notoccurred to her, of course; the very idea was too ridiculous for her toimagine; but that made but one more reason why he must think for her. 

"No, " he said, again. "No, I can't. "

"But why? You haven't told me why. "

He tried to tell her why, but his words were merely repetitions of whathe had said before. He was not a good business man, he did not know howto handle money, even his own money. The judge had been very ill when hewrote those letters, if he had been well and himself he never would havethought of him as trustee. She listened for a time, her impatiencegrowing. Then she rose. 

"Very well, " she said. "Then I shall not accept the twenty thousand. Tome one wish of Judge Knowles' is as sacred as the other. He wanted youto take that trust just as much as he wanted me to have the money. Ifyou won't respect one wish I shall not respect the other. "

He could not believe she meant it, but she certainly looked and spoke asif she did. He faltered and hesitated, and she pressed her advantage. And at last he yielded. 

"All right, " he said desperately. "All right--or all wrong, whichever itturns out to be. I'll take the trustee job--try it for a time anyhow. But, I tell you, Elizabeth, I'm afraid we're both makin' a big mistake. "

She was not in the least afraid, and said so. 

"You have made me very happy, Cap'n Kendrick, " she declared. "I can'tthank you enough. "

He shook his head, but before he could reply there came a sharp knock onthe outer door, the back door of the house. 

"Who on earth is that?" exclaimed Sears. Then he shouted, "Come in. "

The person who came in was George Kent. 

"Why, George!" said Elizabeth. Then she added. "What is it? What is thematter?"

The young man looked as if something was the matter. His expression wasnot at all pleasant. 

"Evenin', George, " said the captain. "Glad to see you. Sit down. "

Kent ignored both the invitation and the speaker. 

"Look here, " he demanded, addressing Miss Berry: "do you know what timeit is? It is ten o'clock. "

His tone was so rude--so boyishly rude--that Sears looked up quickly andElizabeth drew back. 

"It's nearly ten o'clock, " repeated Kent. "And you are over here. "

"George!" exclaimed Sears, sharply. 

"You are over here--with him--again. "

It was Elizabeth who spoke now. She said but one word. 

"Well?" she asked. 

There was an icy chill about that "Well?" which a more cautious personthat George Kent might have noticed and taken as a warning. But theyoung man was far from cautious at that moment. 

"_Well?_" he repeated hotly. "I don't think it's well at all. I come seeyou and--I find you over here. And I find that every one else knows youare here. And they think it queer, too; I could see that they did. .. . Ofcourse, I don't say----"

"I think you have said enough. I came here to talk with Cap'n Kendrickon a business matter. I told mother where I was going when I left thehouse. The others heard me, I suppose; I certainly did not try toconceal it. Why should I?"

"Why should you? Why, you should because--because---- Well, if you don'tknow why you shouldn't be here, he does. "

"He? Cap'n Kendrick?"

"Yes. I--I told him why, myself. Only this noon I told him. I was hereand I told him people were beginning to talk about you and he beingtogether so much and--and his taking you to ride, and all that sort ofthing. I told him he ought to be more careful of appearances. I said ofcourse you didn't think, but he ought to. I explained that----"

"Stop!" Her face was crimson and she was breathing quickly. "Do you meanto say that--that people are talking--are saying things about--about. .. . What people?"

"Oh--oh, different ones. Of course they don't say anything much--er--notyet. But if we aren't careful they will. You see----"

"Wait. Are they--are they saying that--that---- Oh, it is _too_ wickedand foolish to speak! Are they saying that Cap'n Kendrick and I----"

Sears spoke. "Hush, hush, Elizabeth!" he begged. "They aren't sayin'anything, of course. George is--is just a little excited over nothin', that's all. He has heard Elvira or some other cat over there at theHarbor, probably. They're jealous because you have had this money leftyou. "

"It is nothing to do with the money, " Kent asserted. "Didn't I tell youthis noon that you--that we had to be careful of appearances? Didn't Isay----"

Again Elizabeth broke in. 

"You have said all I want to hear--in this room, now, " she declared. "There are a good many things for us both to say--and listen to, but nothere. .. . Good night, Cap'n Kendrick. I am sorry I kept you up so late, and I hope all this--I hope you won't let this wicked nonsense troubleyou. It isn't worth worrying about. Good night. "

"But, Elizabeth, " urged Sears, anxiously, "don't you think----"

"Good night. George, you had better come with me. I have some things tosay to you. "

She went out. Kent hesitated, paused for a moment, and then followedher. When Judah returned with the tobacco and a fresh cargo of rumorsconcerning Egbert Phillips he found his lodger not the least interestedin either smoke or gossip. 

CHAPTER XIII

So Judah was obliged to postpone the telling of his most important newsitem. But the following morning when, looking heavy-eyed and haggard, asif he had slept but little, Captain Kendrick limped into the kitchen forbreakfast, Mr. Cahoon served that item with the salt mackerel and friedpotatoes. It was surprising, too--at least Sears found it so. EgbertPhillips, so Judah declared, had given up his rooms at the Central Houseand had gone, household goods and all, to board and lodge at JoelMacomber's. He was occupying, so Judah said, the very room that Searshimself had occupied when he was taken to his sister's home after therailway accident. 

The captain could scarcely believe it. He had not seen Sarah Macombersince the day following the Foam Flake's amazing cut-up on the Orhamroad, when she had come, in much worriment and anxiety, to learn howbadly he was hurt. Her call had been brief, and, as he had succeeded inconvincing her that the extra twist to his legs would have no seriouseffect, she had not called since. But Sarah-Mary, the eldest girl, hadbrought a basket containing a cranberry pie, a half-peck, more or less, of molasses cookies, and two tumblers of beach-plum jelly, andSarah-Mary had said nothing to her Uncle Sears about the magnificent Mr. Phillips coming to live with them. 

"I guess not, Judah, " said the captain. "Probably you've got it snarledsome way. He may have gone there to supper with George Kent and the restof the yarn sprouted from that. "

But Judah shook his head. "No snarl about it, Cap'n Sears, " he declared. "Come straight this did, straight as a spare topmast. Joe Macomber toldme so himself. Proud of it, too, Joe was; all kind of swelled up withit, like a pizened shark. "

"But why on earth should he pick out Sarah's? Why didn't he go to NaomiNewcomb's; she keeps a regular boardin'-house? Sarah can't take any moreboarders. Her house is overloaded as it is. That was why I didn't staythere. No, I don't believe it, Judah. Joel was just comin' up to blow, that's all. He's a regular puffin'-pig for blowin'. "

But Sarah called that very forenoon and confirmed the news. She hadagreed to take Mr. Phillips into her home. Not only that, but he wasalready there. 

"I know you must think it's sort of funny, Sears, " she said, lookingrather embarrassed and avoiding her brother's eye. "If anybody had toldme a week ago that I should ever take another boarder I should have feltlike askin' 'em if they thought I was crazy. I suppose you think I am, don't you?"

"Not exactly, Sarah--not yet. "

"But you think I most likely will be before I'm through? Well, maybe, but I'm goin' to risk it. You see, I--well, we need the money, for onething. "

Sears stirred in his chair. 

"I could have let you have a little money every once in a while, Sarah, "he said. "It's a shame that it would have to be so little. If those legsever do get shipshape and I get to sea again----"

She stopped him. "I haven't got so yet awhile that I have to takeanybody's money for nothin', " she said sharply. "There, there, Sears! Iknow you'd give me every cent you had if I'd let you. I'll tell you whyI took Mr. Phillips. He came to supper with George the other night andstayed all the evenin'. He's one of the most interestin' men I ever metin my life. Not any more interestin' than you are, of course, " sheadded, loyally, "but in--in a different way. "

"Um . .. Yes. I shouldn't wonder. "

"Yes, he is. And he liked my supper, and said so. Ate some of everythingand praised it, and was just as--as common and everyday and sociable, not a mite proud or--like that. "

"Why in the devil should he be?"

"Why--why, I don't know why he shouldn't. Lots of folks who know as muchas he does and have been everywhere and known the kind of people heknows--they would be stuck up--yes, and are. Look at Cap'n ElkhanahWingate and his wife. "

"I don't want to look at 'em. How do you know how much this Phillipsknows?"

"How do I _know_? Why, Sears, you ought to hear him talk. I never heardsuch talk. The children just--just hung on his words, as they say. Andhe was so nice to them. And Joel and George Kent they think he's thegreatest man they ever saw. Oh, all hands in Bayport like him. "

"Humph! When he was here before, teachin' singin' school, he wasn't sucha Grand Panjandrum. At least, I never heard that he was. "

"Sears, you don't like him, do you? I'm real surprised. Yes, and--andsorry. Why don't you like him?"

Her brother laughed. "I didn't say I didn't like him, Sarah, " hereplied. "Besides, what difference would one like more or less make? Idon't know him very well. "

"But he likes you. Why, he said he didn't know when he had met a man whogave him such an impression of--of strength and character as you did. Hesaid that right at our supper table. I tell you I was proud when he saidit about my brother. "

So Sears had not the heart to utter more skepticism. He encouraged Sarahto tell more of her arrangements with the great man. He was, itappeared, to have not only the bedroom which Sears had occupied, butalso the room adjoining. 

"One will be his bedroom, " explained Mrs. Macomber, "and the other hissittin' room, sort of. His little suite, he calls 'em. He is movin' therest of his things in to-day. "

Seers looked at her. "Two rooms!" he exclaimed. "He's to have _two_rooms in your house! For heaven sakes, Sarah, where do the rest of youlive; in the cellar? Goin' to let the children sleep in the cistern?"

She explained. It was a complicated process, but she had worked it out. Lemuel and Edgar had always had a room together, but now Bemis was tohave a cot there also. "And Joey, of course, is only a baby, his bed isin our room, Joel's and mine. And Sarah-Mary and Aldora, they are sameas they have been. "

"Yes, yes, but that doesn't explain the extra room, his sitting room. Where does that come from?"

She hesitated a moment. "Well--well, you see, " she said, "there wasn'tany other bedroom except the one George hires, and he is goin' to stayfor a while longer anyway. At first it didn't seem as if I could let Mr. Phillips have the sittin' room he wanted. But at last Joel and I thoughtit out. We don't use the front parlor hardly any, and there is theregular sittin' room left for us anyway, so----"

"Sarah Kendrick Macomber, do you mean to tell me you've let this fellowhave your _front parlor_?"

"Why--why, yes. We don't hardly ever use it, Sears. I don't believewe've used that parlor--really opened the blinds and used it, Imean--since Father Macomber's funeral, and that was--let me see--oversix years ago. "

Her brother slowly shook his head. "The judge was right, " he declared. "He certainly was right. Smoothness isn't any name for it. "

"Sears, what are you talkin' about? I can't understand you. I thoughtyou would be glad to think such a splendid man as he is was goin' tolive with us. To say nothin' of my makin' all this extra money. Ofcourse, if you don't want me to do it, I won't. I wouldn't oppose you, Sears, for anything in this world. But I--I must say----"

He laid his hand on hers. "There, Sarah, " he broke in. "Don't pay toomuch attention to me. I'm crochetty these days, have a good deal on mymind. If you think takin' this Phillips man aboard is a good thing foryou, I'm glad. How much does he pay you a week?"

She told him. It was more than fair rate for those days. 

"Humph!" he observed. "Well, Sarah, good luck to you. I hope you getit. "

"Get it! Why, of course I'll get it, Sears. Its all arranged. And I wantyou and Mr. Phillips to know each other real well. I'm goin' to tell himhe must call again to see you. "

"Eh?. .. Oh, all right, Sarah. You can tell him, if you want to. "

After she had gone he thought the matter over. Surely Mr. EgbertPhillips was a gentleman of ability along certain lines. His sisterSarah was a sensible woman, she was far far from being a susceptiblesentimentalist. Yet she was already under the Phillips spell. EitherJudge Knowles was right--very, very much right--or he was overwhelminglywrong. If left to Bayport opinion as a jury there was no questionconcerning the verdict. Egbert would be triumphantly acquitted. 

Sears, however, did not, at this time, spare much thought to thePhillips riddle. He had other, and, it seemed to him, more disturbingmatters to deal with. The quarrel between Elizabeth Berry and young Kentwas one of those, for he felt that, in a way, he was the cause of it. George had, of course, behaved like a foolish boy and had been about astactless as even a jealous youth could be, but there was always thechance that some one else had sowed the seeds of jealousy in his mind. He determined to see Kent, explain, have a frank and friendly talk, and, if possible, set everything right--everything between the two youngpeople, that is. But when, on his first short walk along the road, hehappened to meet Kent, the latter paid no attention to his hail andstrode past without speaking. Sears shouted after him, but the shout wasunheeded. 

Elizabeth was almost as contrary. When he attempted to lead theconversation to George, she would not follow. When he mentioned theyoung man's name she changed the subject. At last when, his sense ofguilt becoming too much for him, he began to defend Kent, sheinterrupted the defense. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, "I understand why you take his part. And itis like you to do it. But when you begin to blame yourself or me then Ishan't listen. "

"Blame _you_! Why, Elizabeth, I had no idea of blamin' you. The wholething is just a--a misunderstandin' between you and George, and I wantto straighten it out, that's all. If anybody is to blame I really thinkI am. I should have thought more about--about, what he callsappearances; that is, perhaps I should. "

She lost patience. "Oh, do stop!" she cried. "You know you are talkingnonsense. "

"Well but, Elizabeth, I feel--wicked. I wouldn't for the world be thecause of a break between you two. If that should happen because of me Icouldn't rest easy. "

This conversation took place in the smaller sitting room of the FairHarbor, the room which she and her mother used as a sort of office. Shehad been standing by the window looking out. Now she turned and facedhim. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she asked, "just what do you mean by a 'break' betweenGeorge Kent and me? Are you under the impression that he and Iwere--were engaged?"

"Why--why, weren't you?"

"No. Why should you think we were?"

"Well--why, there seemed to be a sort of general idea that--that youwere. People--Bayport folks seemed to think--seemed to think----"

She stamped her foot. "They don't think, most of them, they only talk, "she declared. "_I_ certainly never said we were. And he didn't either, did he?"

Kent had said that he and Elizabeth were engaged--practically--whateverthat might mean. But the captain thought it wisest just then to forget. 

"Why--no, I guess not, " he answered. 

"Of course he didn't . .. Cap'n Kendrick. I--oh, you might as wellunderstand this clearly. I have known George for a long time. I likedhim. For a time I thought--well I thought perhaps I liked him enoughto--to like him a lot more But I was mistaken. He--he kept doing thingsthat I didn't like. Oh, they had nothing to do with me. They were thingsthat didn't seem--what you would call square and aboveboard. Littlethings that. .. . It was about one of these that we disagreed just beforethe 'Down by the Sea' theatricals. But he explained that and--and--well, he can be so nice and likable, that I forgave him. But lately there havebeen others. He has changed. And now all this foolishness, and. .. . There, Cap'n Kendrick, I didn't mean to say so much. But I want you tounderstand, and to tell every one else who talks about George Kent andme being engaged, that there never was any such engagement. "

It would be rather difficult to catalogue all of Sears Kendrick'sfeelings as he listened to this long speech. They were mixed feelings, embarrassment, sorrow, relief--and a most unwarranted and unreasonablejoy. But he repressed the relief and joy and characteristically returnedto self-chastisement. 

"Yes--oh--I see, " he faltered. "I guess likely I didn't understandexactly. But just the same I don't know but George was right in somethings he said. I shouldn't wonder if I had been careless about--aboutappearances. I don't know but--but my seein' you so much--and our goin'to Orham together might set some folks talkin'. Of course it doesn'tseem hardly possible that anybody could be such fools, considerin'you--and then considerin' me--but----"

She would not hear any more. "I don't propose to consider _them_, " shedeclared with fierce indignation. "I shall see you or any one else justas often as I please. Now that you are to take care of my money for me Ihave no doubt I shall see you a great deal oftener than I ever did. Andif those--those talkative persons don't like it, they may do the nextbest thing. .. . No, that is enough, Cap'n Kendrick. It is settled. "

And it did appear to be. If anything, she saw him oftener than before, seemed to take a mischievous delight in being seen with him, in runningto the Minot place on errands connected with the Harbor business, andin every way defying the gossips. 

And gossip accepted the challenge. From the time when it became knownthat Sears Kendrick was to be the trustee of Elizabeth Berry'stwenty-thousand dollar legacy the tide of public opinion, already on theturn, set more and more strongly against him. And, as it ebbed forCaptain Sears, it rose higher and higher for that genteel martyr, Mr. Egbert Phillips. 

Sears could not help noticing the change. It was gradual, but it wasmarked. He had never had many visitors, but occasionally some of theretired sea dogs among the town-folk would drop in to swap yarns, or ayounger captain, home from a voyage, would call on him at the Minotplace. The number of those calls became smaller, then they ceased. Doctor Sheldon was, of course, as jolly and friendly as ever, andBradley, when he drove over from Orham on a legal errand, made it apoint to come and see him. But, aside from those, and Sarah Macomber, and, of course, Elizabeth Berry, no one came. 

When he walked, as he did occasionally now that his legs werestronger--they had quite recovered from the strain put upon them by theFoam Flake's outbreak--up and down the sidewalk from Judge Knowles'corner to the end of the Fair Harbor fence, the people whom he metseldom stopped to chat with him. Or, if they did, the chat was alwaysbrief and, on their part, uneasy. They acted, so it seemed to him, guilty, as if they were doing something they should not do, somethingthey were not at all anxious to have people see them do. And when hedrove with Judah down to the store the group there no longer hailed himwith shouts of welcome. They spoke to him, mentioned the weatherperhaps, grinned in embarrassed fashion, but they did not ask him to sitdown and join them. And when his back was turned, when he left thestore, he had the feeling that there were whispered comments--andsneers. 

It was all impalpable, there was nothing openly hostile, no one saidanything to which he could take exception--he only wished they would;but he felt the hostility nevertheless. 

And among the feminine element it was even more evident. When he went tochurch, as he did semi-occasionally, as he walked down the aisle he feltthat the rustle of Sunday black silks and bonnet strings which precededand followed him was a whisper of respectable and self-righteousdisapproval. It was not all imagination, he caught glimpses of sidelonglooks and headshakes which meant something, and that something notapplause. Once the Reverend Mr. Dishup took for his text Psalm xxxix, the sixth verse, "He heapeth up riches and knoweth not who shall gatherthem. " The sermon dealt with, among others, the individual who in hislifetime amassed wealth, not knowing that, after his death, otherindividuals scheming and unscrupulous would strive to divert that wealthfrom the rightful heirs for their own benefit. It was a rather dullsermon and Sears, his attention wandering, happened to turn his headsuddenly and look at the rest of the congregation. It seemed to him thatat least a quarter of the heads in that congregation were turned in hisdirection. Now, meeting his gaze, they swung back, to stare withnoticeable rigidity at the minister. 

Over at the Fair Harbor his comings and goings were no longer events tocause pleasurable interest and excitement. The change there was quite asevident. Miss Snowden and Mrs. Brackett, leaders of their clique, alwaysgreeted him politely enough, but they did not, individually orcollectively, ask his advice or offer theirs. There were smiles, significant nods, knowing looks exchanged, especially, he thought orimagined, when he and Miss Berry were together. Cordelia Berry wasalmost cold toward him. Yet, so far as he knew, he had done nothing tooffend her. 

He spoke to Elizabeth about her mother's attitude toward him. She saidit was his imagination. 

"It may be, " she said, "that you don't consult her quite enough aboutFair Harbor matters, Cap'n Kendrick. Mother is sensitive, she is matronhere, you know; perhaps we haven't paid as much deference to her opinionas we should. Poor mother, she does try so hard, but she isn't fittedfor business, and knows it. "

That Sunday, after his return from church, the captain asked Judah apoint blank question. 

"Judah, " he said, "I want you to tell me the truth. What is the matterwith me, nowadays? The whole ship's company here in Bayport are givin'me the cold shoulder. Don't tell me you haven't noticed it; a blind mancould notice it. What's wrong with me? What have I done? Or what do theysay I've done?"

Judah was very much embarrassed. His trouble showed in his face abovethe whiskers. He had been bending over the cookstove singing at the topof his lungs the interminable chantey dealing with the fortunes of oneReuben Ranzo. 

 "'Ranzo was no sailor, Ranzo, boys, Ranzo! Ranzo was a tailor, Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!

 "'Oh, poor Reuben Ranzo! _Ranzo_, boys, Ranzo! Hurrah for Reuben Ranzo! _Ranzo_, boys, _Ranzo_!

 "'Ranzo was no sailor, Ranzo, boys, Ranzo! He shipped on board a whaler, Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!'"

And so on, forever and forever. Judah had reached the point where:

 "They set him holy-stonin', Ranzo, boys, Ranzo! And cared not for his groanin', Ranzo, boys, Ranzo!

 "_'Oh_, poor Reuben Ranzo! _Ranzo_, boys, Ranzo! Hurrah for----'

"Eh? Did you say somethin', Cap'n Sears?"

Sears repeated his question, and then, as no answer seemed to beforthcoming, repeated it once more, with an order to "step lively. "Judah groaned and shook his head. 

"I've been sort of afraid you might think somethin' was queer, Cap'nSears, " he admitted. "I was hopin' you wouldn't, though, not till itbegun to blow over. All them kind of things do blow over, give 'em time. One voyage I took--to Shanghai, seems to me 'twas, either that or Rooshysomewheres--there was a ship's carpenter aboard and word got spreadaround that he had a wooden leg. Now he didn't, you know; matter of fact, all he had out of the way with him was a kind of--er--er--sheet-ironstove lid, as you might call it, riveted onto the top of his head. Hewas in the Mexican war, seemed so, and one of them cannon balls had cavedin his upper deck, you understand, and them doctors they----"

"Here, here, Judah! I didn't ask you about any iron-headed carpenters, did I?"

"No; no, you never, Cap'n Sears. But what I started to say was that----"

"All right, but you stick to what I want you to say. Tell me what's thematter with me in Bayport?"

Judah groaned again. "It 'tain't so much that there's any great that'swrong along of you, Cap'n, " he said, "as 'tis that there ain't nothin'but what's so everlastin' right with another feller. That's the way Isize it up, and I've been takin' observations for quite a spell. Bayportfolks are spendin' seven days in the week lovin' this Egbert Phillips. Consequentially they ain't got much time left to love you in. Fools?Course they be, and I've told some of 'em so till I've got a sore throathollerin'. But, by the creepin'----"

"Judah! Has Phillips been saying things about me?"

"Hey? Him? No, no, no! He don't say nothin' about nobody no time, nothin' out of the way, that is. He's always praisin' of you up, so theytell me, and excusin' you and forgivin' you. "

"Forgivin' me? What do you mean by that?"

"Hold on! don't get mad at _me_, Cap'n Sears. I mean when they say whata pity 'tis that he, the man whose wife owned all this Seymour propertyand the fifty thousand dollars and such--when they go to poorin' him andheavin' overboard hints about how other folks have the spendin' of thatmoney and all--he just smiles, sad but sort of sweet, and says it's allright, his dear Lobelia done what seemed to her proper, and if he has tosuffer a little grain, why, never mind. .. . That's the way he talks. "

"But where do I come in on that?"

"Well--well, you don't really, Cap'n Sears. Course you don't. Butyou--you have got the handlin' of that money, you know. And you aregettin' wages for skipperin' the Fair Harbor. I've heard it said--not byhim, oh, creepin', no!--but by others, that _he_ ought to have thatskipper's job, if anybody had. Lots of folks seem to cal'late he'd oughtto _own_ the Harbor. But instead of that he don't own nothin', they say, and scratches along in two rooms, down to Joe Macomber's, and, underneath all his sufferin', he's just as sweet and uncomplainin' andlong-endurin' and--and high-toned and sociable and--and----"

"Yes, yes. I see. Do they say anything more? What about my bein'Elizabeth Berry's trustee?"

Mr. Cahoon paused before replying. "Well, they do seem to hold thatagainst you some, I'm afraid, " he admitted reluctantly. "I don't knowwhy they do. And they don't say much in front of me no more, 'cause, they realize, I cal'late, that I'm about ready to knock a few of 'eminto the scuppers. But it--it just don't help you none, Cap'n, takin'care of that money of Elizabeth's don't. And it does help that Egman. .. . Why? Don't ask me. I--I'm sick and disgusted. _I_ shan't go tono church vestry to hear him lecture on Eyetalian paintin' or--orglazin', or whatever 'tis. And have you noticed how they bow down andworship him over to the Fair Harbor? Have you noticed Cordelia Berry?She's makin' a dum fool of herself, ain't she? Not that that's a veryhard job. "

Judah's explanations did not explain much, but they did help to increaseSears' vague suspicions. He had noticed--no one could help noticing--theever-growing popularity of Mr. Phillips. It was quite as evident as thedecline of his own. What he suspected was that the two were connectedand that, somehow or other, the smooth gentleman who boarded and lodgedwith the Macombers was responsible, knowingly, calculatingly responsiblefor the change. 

Yet it seemed so absurd, that suspicion. He and Phillips met frequently, sometimes at church, or oftenest at the Harbor--Egbert's visits therewere daily now, and he dined or supped with the Berrys and the "inmates"at least twice a week. And always the Phillips manner was kind andgracious and urbane. Always he inquired solicitously concerning thecaptain's health. There was never a hint of hostility, never a trace ofresentment or envy. And always, too, Sears emerged from one of thoseencounters with a feeling that he had had a little the worst of it, thathis seafaring manners and blunt habit of speech made him appear at amarked disadvantage in comparison with this easy, suave, gracefullyelegant personage. And so many of those meetings took place in thepresence of Elizabeth Berry. 

Elizabeth liked Egbert, there was no doubt of that. Once when she andthe captain were together in the Fair Harbor office Phillips entered. Sears and Elizabeth were bending over the ledger and Egbert opened thedoor. Sears and the young lady were not in the least embarrassed--ofcourse there was not the slightest reason why they should be--but, oddlyenough, Phillips seemed to be. He stepped back, coughed, fidgeted withthe latch, and then began to apologize. 

"I--I really beg your pardon, " he said. "I am sorry. .. . I didn't know--Ididn't realize--I'm _so_ sorry. "

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. "But there is nothing for you to besorry about, " she declared. "What is it? I don't understand. "

Egbert still retained his hold upon the latch with one hand. His hat, gloves and cane were in the other. It is perhaps the best indication ofhis standing in the community, the fact that, having lived in Bayportfor some weeks and being by his own confession a poor man, he couldstill go gloved and caned on week days as well as Sundays and not besubject to ridicule even by the Saturday night gang in EliphaletBassett's store. 

He fidgeted with the latch and turned as if to go. 

"I should have knocked, of course, " he protested. "It was most carelessof me. I do hope you understand. I will come--ah--later. "

"But I don't understand, " repeated the puzzled Elizabeth. "It wasperfectly all right, your coming in. There is no reason why you shouldknock. The cap'n and I were going over the bills, that's all. "

Mr. Phillips looked--well, he looked queer. 

"Oh!" he said. "Yes--yes, of course. But one doesn't always care to beinterrupted in--even in business matters--ah--sometimes. "

Elizabeth laughed. "I'm sure I don't mind, " she said. "Those businessmatters weren't so frightfully important. "

"I'm so glad. You ease my conscience, Elizabeth. Thank you. .. . But I amafraid the captain minds more than you do. He looks as if he didn't likeinterruptions. Now do you, Captain Kendrick?"

Sears was ruffled. The man always did rub him the wrong way, and now, for the first time, he heard him address Miss Berry by her Christianname. There was no real reason why he should not, almost every one inBayport did, but Sears did not like it nevertheless. 

"You don't fancy interruptions, Captain, " repeated the smiling Egbert. "Now do you? Ha, ha! Confess. "

For the moment Sears forgot to be diplomatic. 

"That depends, I guess, " he answered shortly. 

"Depends? You see, I told you, Elizabeth. Depends upon what? We mustmake him tell us the whole truth, mustn't we, Elizabeth? What does itdepend upon, Captain Kendrick; the--ah--situation--the nature of thebusiness--or the companion? Now which? Ha, ha!"

Sears answered without taking time to consider. 

"Upon who interrupts, maybe, " he snapped. Then he would have givensomething to have recalled the words, for Elizabeth turned and looked athim. She flushed. 

Egbert's serenity, however, was quite undented. 

"Oh, dear me!" he exclaimed, in mock alarm. "After that I shall _have_to go. And I shall take great pains to close the door behind me. Ha, ha!_Au revoir_, Elizabeth. Good-by, Captain. "

He went out, keeping his promise concerning the closing of the door. Elizabeth continued to look at her companion. 

"Now why in the world, " she asked, "did you speak to him like that?"

Sears frowned. "Oh, I don't know, " he answered. "He--he riles mesometimes. "

"Yes. .. . Yes, I should judge so. I have noticed it before. You don'tlike him for some reason or other. What is the reason?"

He hesitated. Aside from Judge Knowles' distrust and dislike--which hecould not mention to her--there was no very valid reason, nothing butwhat she would have called prejudice. So he hesitated and reddened. 

She went on. "_I_ like him, " she declared. "He is a gentleman. He isalways polite and considerate--as he was just now about breaking in onour business talk. What did you dislike about that?"

"Well, I--well--oh, nothin', perhaps. "

"I think nothing certainly. He is an old friend of mother's and of thepeople here in the Harbor. They all like him very much. I am sorry thatyou don't and that you spoke to him as you did. I didn't think you tookunreasonable dislikes. It doesn't seem like you, Cap'n Kendrick. "

So once more Sears felt himself to have been put in a bad position andto have lost ground while Phillips gained it. And, brooding over theaffair, he decided that he must be more careful. If he were not so muchin Elizabeth's company there would be no opportunity forinsinuations--by Egbert Phillips, or any one else. So he put a strongcheck upon his inclination to see the young woman, and, overconscientious as he was so likely to be, began almost to avoid her. Except when business of one kind or another made it necessary he did notvisit the Harbor. It cost him many pangs and made him miserable, but hestuck to his resolution. She should not be talked about in connectionwith him if he could help it. 

He had had several talks with Bradley and with her about her legacy fromJudge Knowles. The twenty-thousand was, so he discovered, already wellinvested in good securities and it was Bradley's opinion, as well as hisown, that it should not be disturbed. The bonds were deposited in thevaults of the Harniss bank, and were perfectly safe. On dividend dateshe and Miss Berry could cut and check up the coupons together. So farhis duties as trustee were not burdensome. Bradley had investedCordelia's five thousand for her, so the Berry family's finances werestable. In Bayport they were now regarded as "well off. " Cordelia wasinvited to supper at Captain Elkhanah Wingate's, a sure sign that thehall-mark of wealth and aristocracy had been stamped upon her. At thatsupper, to which Elizabeth also was invited but did not attend, Mr. Egbert Phillips shone resplendent. Egbert was not wealthy, a fact whichhe took pains to let every one know, but when he talked, as he did mostof the evening, Mrs. Wingate and her feminine guests sat in an adoringtrance and, after these guests had gone, the hostess stood by the parlorwindow gazing wistfully after them. 

Her husband was unlocking the door of a certain closet upon the shelf ofwhich was kept a certain bottle and accompanying glasses. The closet hadnot been opened before that evening, as the Reverend and Mrs. Dishup hadbeen among the dinner guests. 

"Elkhanah, " observed Mrs. Wingate, dreamily, "I do think Mr. Phillips isthe most elegant man I ever saw in my life. His language--and hismanners--they are perfect. "

Captain Elkhanah nodded. "He's pretty slick, " he agreed. 

If he expected by thus agreeing to please his wife, he must have beendisappointed. 

"Oh, _don't_ say 'slick'!" she snapped. "I do wish you wouldn't use suchcountrified words. "

"Eh?" indignantly. "Countrified! Well, I am country, ain't I? So areyou, so far as that goes. So was he once--when he was teachin' aone-horse singin' school in this very town. "

"Well, perhaps. But he has got over it. And it would pay you to takelessons from him, and learn not to say 'slick' and 'ain't'. "

Her husband grunted. "Pay!" he repeated. "I'll wait till he pays me thetwenty dollars he borrowed of me two weeks ago. He wasn't too citifiedto do that. "

Mrs. Wingate stalked to the stairs. "I'm ashamed of you, " she declared. "You know what a struggle he is having, and how splendid anduncomplaining he is. And you a rich man! Any one would think you neversaw twenty dollars before. "

Captain Elkhanah poured himself a judicious dose from the bottle. 

"Maybe I never _will_ see _that_ twenty again, " he observed with achuckle. 

"Oh, you--you disgust me!"

"Oh, go----"

"_What?_ What are you trying to say to me?"

"Go to bed, " said the captain, and took his dose. 

CHAPTER XIV

If Elizabeth noticed that Sears was not as frequent a visitor at theFair Harbor as he had formerly been she said nothing about it. Sheherself had ceased to run in at the Minot place to ask this question orthat. Since the occasion when Mr. Phillips interrupted the business talkin the office and his apologies had brought about the slightdisagreement--if it may be called that--between the captain and MissBerry, the latter had, so Sears imagined, been a trifle less cordial tohim than before. She was not coldly formal or curt and disagreeable--hermother was all of these things to the captain now, and quite withoutreason so far as he could see--Elizabeth was not like that, but she wasless talkative, less cheerful, and certainly less confidentiallycommunicative. At times he caught her looking at him as if doubtful ortroubled. When he asked her what was the matter she said "Nothing, " andbegan to speak of the bills they had been considering. 

On one occasion she asked him a point blank question, one quiteirrelevant to the subject at hand. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she asked, "how do you think Judge Knowles came toappoint you to be manager here at the Harbor?"

He was taken by surprise, of course. "Why, " he stammered, "I--why, Idon't know. That is, all I know about it is what he told me. He said hefelt he ought to have some one, and I was near at home, and--and so hethought of me, I suppose. "

"Yes, I know. You told me that. .. . But--but how did he know you wantedthe position?"

"Wanted it? Good heavens and earth, I didn't want it! I fought as hardas I could not to take it. Why, I told you--you remember, that day whenI first came over here; that time when Elvira and the rest wanted to buythe cast-iron menagerie; I told you then----"

"Yes, " she interrupted again. "Yes, I know you did. But. .. . And thejudge had never heard from you--had never. .. . "

"Heard from me! Do you mean had I sent in an application for the job?"

"Oh, no, no! Not that. But you and he had never been--er--close friendsin the old days, when you were here before?"

He could not guess what she was driving at. "Look here, Elizabeth, " hesaid, "I've told you that I scarcely knew Judge Knowles before he sentfor me and offered me this place. No man alive was ever more surprisedthan I was then. Why, I gathered that the judge had talked about me toyou before he sent for me. Not as manager here, of course, but as--well, as a man. He told you that I was goin' to call, you said so, and I_know_ you and he had talked and laughed together about my fight withthe hens in Judah's garden. "

The trouble, whatever its cause, seemed to vanish. She smiled. "Yes, yes, " she said. "Of course we had. He did like you, Judge Knowles did, and that was all--of course it was. "

"All what?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. How is Judah? I haven't seen him for two days. "

She would not mention Judge Knowles again, but for the remainder oftheir session with the accounts she was more like her old self than shehad been for at least a week, or so it seemed to him. 

This was but one of those queer and disconcerting flare-ups of hers. Oneday, a week or so after she had questioned him concerning hisappointment, he happened to be in the Harbor kitchen, and alone--ofitself a surprising thing. Elvira Snowden and her group were holdingsome sort of committee meeting in the sitting room. Elvira wascontinually forming committees or circles for this purpose or that, purposes which fizzled out at about the third meeting of each group. Esther Tidditt was supposed to be in charge of the kitchen on thisparticular morning, but she had gone into the committee meeting in orderto torment Elvira and Mrs. Brackett, a favorite amusement with her. 

So Sears, wandering into the kitchen, happened to notice that the doorof the store closet had been left open, and he was standing in front ofit idly looking in. He was brought out of his day dream, which hadnothing to do with the closet or its contents, by Elizabeth's voice. Shehad entered from the dining room and he had not heard her. 

"Well, " she asked, "I trust you find everything present or accountedfor?"

Her tone was so crisply sarcastic that he turned in astonishment. 

"Why--what?" he faltered. 

"I said I trusted that you found everything in that closet as it shouldbe. Have you measured the flour? My mother is matron here, Cap'nKendrick, and she will be glad to have you take any precautions of thatkind, I am sure. So shall I. But don't you think it might as well bedone while she or I are here?"

He was bewildered. 

"I don't know what you mean, Elizabeth, " he said. 

"Don't you?"

"No, I don't. I came in just now by the back door, and there was no onein the kitchen, so--so I waited for a minute. "

"Why did you come by the back door? You didn't use to. Mother and I areusually in the office, or, at least, we are always glad to come therewhen you call. "

He was still bewildered, but irritated, too. 

"Why did I come by the back door?" he repeated. "Why, I've come that waya dozen times in the last fortnight. Don't you want me to come thatway?"

Now she looked a trifle confused, but the flush was still on her cheeksand the sparkle in her eye. 

"I'm sure I don't care how often you come that way, " she said. "But--well, mother is matron here, Cap'n Kendrick. She may notbe--perhaps she isn't--the most businesslike and orderly person in theworld, but she is my mother. If you have any complaints to make, if youwant to find out how things are kept, or managed, or----"

"Here!" he broke in. "Wait! What do you mean? Do you suppose I sneakedinto this kitchen by myself to peek into that closet, and--and spy onyour mother's managin'?. .. You don't believe anything of that kind. Youcan't. "

She was more embarrassed now. "Why--why, no, I don't, Cap'n Kendrick, "she admitted. "Of course I know you wouldn't sneak anywhere. But--but Ihave been given to understand that you and--well, Mr. Bradley--have notbeen--are not quite satisfied with the management--with mother'smanagement. And----"

"Wait! Heave to!" Sears was excited now, and, as usual when excited, drifted into nautical phraseology. "What do you mean by sayin' I am notsatisfied? Who told you that?"

"Why--well, you are not, are you? You questioned her about the coal aweek ago, about how much she used in a week. And then you asked herabout keeping the fires overnight, if she saw how many were kept, and ifthere was much waste. And two or three times you have been seen standingby the bins--figuring. "

"Good Lord!" His exclamation this time was one of sheer amazement. "GoodLord!" he said again. "Why, I have been tryin', now winter is comin' on, to figure out how to save coal cost for this craft--for the Fair Harbor. You know I have. I asked your mother about the fires because I know howmuch waste there is likely to be when a fire is kept carelessly. And asfor Bradley and I not bein' satisfied with your mother that is thewildest idea of all. I never talked with Bradley about the managementhere. It isn't his business, for one reason. "

She was silent. Her expression had changed. Then she said, impulsively, "I'm sorry. Please don't mind what I said, Cap'n Kendrick. I--I amrather nervous and--and troubled just now. Of course, you are notobliged to come over here as--as often as you used. .. . But things I haveheard---- Oh, I shouldn't pay attention to them, I suppose. I--I am verysorry. "

But he was not quite in the mood to forgive. And one sentence inparticular occupied his attention. 

"Things you have heard, " he repeated. "Yes. .. . I should judge you musthave heard a good deal. But who did you hear it from?. .. Look here, Elizabeth; how did you know I was here in the kitchen now? Did you justhappen to come out and find me by accident?"

She reddened. "Why--why----" she stammered. 

"Or did some one tell you I was out here--spyin' on the pickles?"

His tone was a most unusual one from him to her. She resented it. 

"No one told me you were 'spying', " she replied; coldly. "I have neverthought of you as--a spy, Cap'n Kendrick. I have always considered you afriend, a disinterested friend of mother's and mine. "

"Well?. .. What does that 'disinterested' mean?"

"Why, nothing in particular. "

"It must mean somethin' or you wouldn't have said it. Does it mean thatyou are beginnin' to doubt the disinterested part?. .. I'd like to haveyou tell me, if you don't mind, how you knew I was alone here in thekitchen? Who took the pains to tell you that?"

Her answer now was prompt enough. 

"No one took particular pains, I should imagine, " she said, crisply. "Mr. Phillips told me, as it happened. Or rather, he told mother andmother told me. He is to speak to the--to Elvira's 'travel-study'committee in the sitting room, and, as he often does, he walked aroundby the garden path. When he passed the window he saw you standing by thecloset, that was all. "

Sears did not speak. He turned to the door. 

She called to him. "Wait--wait, please, " she cried. "Mr. Phillips didnot say anything, so far as I know, except to mention that you werehere. "

The captain turned back again. "Somebody said somethin', " he declared. "Somebody said enough to send you out here and make you speak to melike--like that. And somebody has been startin' you to think about how Igot the appointment as manager. Somebody has been whisperin' that I amnot satisfied with your mother's way of doin' things and am schemin'against her. Somebody has been droppin' a hint here and a hint thereuntil even you have begun to believe 'em. .. . Well, I can't stop yourbelief, I suppose, but maybe some day I shall stop Commodore Egbert, andwhen I do he'll stop hard. "

"You have no right to say I believe anything against you. I have alwaysrefused to believe that. Do you suppose if I hadn't believed in andtrusted you absolutely I should have. .. . But there! You know I did--anddo. It is only when--when----"

"When Egbert hints. "

"_Oh!_ . .. How you do hate Mr. Phillips, don't you?"

"Hate him?. .. Why, I--I don't know as you'd call it hate. "

"I know. It is plain to see. You have hated him ever since he came. Butwhy? He has never--you won't believe this, but it is true--he has never, to me at least, said one word except in your praise. He likes andadmires you. He has told me so. "

"Does he tell your mother the same thing?"

She looked at him. "Why do you couple my mother's name with his?" shedemanded quickly. "Why should he tell her anything that he doesn't tellme?"

It was a question which Sears could not answer. For some time he hadnoticed and guessed and feared, but he could not tell her. So he wassilent, and to remain silent was perhaps the worst thing he could havedone. 

"What do you know against Mr. Phillips?" she asked. "Tell me. Do youknow _anything_ to his discredit?"

Again he did not answer. She turned away. 

"I thought not, " she said. "Oh, envy is such a _mean_ trait. Well, Isuppose I shouldn't expect to have many friends--lasting friends. "

"Here! hold on, Elizabeth. Don't say that. "

"What else can I say? I am sorry I spoke to you as I did, but--I thinkyou have more than paid the debt. .. . Yes, mother, I am coming. "

She went out of the room and Sears limped moodily home, reflecting, asmost of mankind has reflected at one time or another, upon theunaccountableness of the feminine character. So far as he could see hehad said much less than he would have been justified in saying. She hadgoaded him into saying even that. He pondered and puzzled over it thegreater part of the night and then reached the conclusion which the maleusually reaches under such circumstances, namely, that he had better askher pardon. 

So when they next met he did that very thing and she accepted theapology. And at that meeting, and others immediately following it, noword was said by either concerning "spying" or Mr. Egbert Phillips. Yetthe wall between them was left a little higher than it had been before, their friendship was not quite the same, and an experienced person, notmuch of a prophet at that, could have foretold that the time was comingwhen that friendship was to end. 

It was little Esther Tidditt who laid the coping of the dividing wall. Elvira Snowden built some of the upper tiers, but Esther finished thejob. Almost unbelievable as it may seem, she did not like Mr. Phillips. Of course with her tendency to take the off side in all arguments and tobe almost invariably "agin the government, " the fact that the rest offeminine Bayport adored the glittering Egbert might have been of itselfsufficient to set up her opposition. But he had, or she considered thathe had, snubbed her on several occasions and she was a dangerous personto snub. Judah expressed it characteristically when he declared thatanybody who "set out" to impose on Esther Tidditt would have as livelya time as a bare-footed man trying to dance a hornpipe on a wasp's nest. "She'll keep 'em hoppin' high, _I_ tell ye, " proclaimed Judah. 

Little Mrs. Tidditt would have liked to keep Mr. Phillips hopping high, and did administer sly digs to his grandeur whenever she could. In thepraise services among the "inmates" which were almost sure to follow acall of the great man at the Fair Harbor it was disconcerting andprovoking to the worshipers to have Esther refer to the idol as "thatEg. " Mrs. Brackett took her to task for it. 

"You ought to have more respect for his wife's memory, if nothin' else, "snapped Susanna. "If it hadn't been for her and her generosity youwouldn't be here, Esther Tidditt. "

"Yes, and if it hadn't been for her _he_ wouldn't be here. He'd havebeen teachin' singin' school yet--if he wasn't in jail. _You_ can callhim Po-or de-ar Mr. Phillips, ' if you want to; _I_ call him 'Old Eg. 'And he is a bad egg, too, 'cordin' to my notion. Prob'ly that's why hiswife and Judge Knowles hove him out of the nest. "

And, as Egbert climbed in popularity while Captain Sears Kendrickslipped back, it followed naturally that Mrs. Tidditt became more andmore the friend and champion of the latter. She went out of her way todo him favors and she made it her business to keep him posted on thehappenings and gossip at the Fair Harbor. He did not encourage her inthis, in fact he attempted tactfully to discourage her, but Esther wasnot easily discouraged. 

It was she who first called his attention to Miss Snowden's fondness forthe Phillips society. 

"Elviry's set her cap for him, " declared Mrs. Tidditt. "The way she setsand looks mushy at him when he's preachin' about Portygee pictures andsuch is enough to keep a body from relishin' their meals. "

But of late, according to Esther, Elvira was no longer the first violinin the Phillips orchestra. 

"She's second fiddle, " announced the little woman. "There's anothercraft cut acrost her bows. If you ask me who 'tis I can tell you, too, Cap'n Sears. "

And Sears made it a point not to ask. Once it was Elvira herself whomore than hinted, and in the presence of Elizabeth and the captain. Thelatter pair were at the desk together when Miss Snowden passed throughthe room. 

"Where is mother?" asked Elizabeth. "Have you seen her, Elvira?"

Elvira's thin lips were shut tight. 

"Don't ask _me_, " she snapped, viciously. "She's out trapping, Isuppose. "

"Trapping!" Elizabeth stared at her. "What are you talking about?Trapping what?"

"I don't know. _I'm_ not layin' traps to catch anything--or any_body_either. "

She sailed out of the room. Miss Berry turned to Sears. 

"Do you know what she means, Cap'n Kendrick?" she asked. 

Sears did know, or would have bet heavily on his guess. But he shook hishead. Elizabeth was not satisfied. 

"Why do you look like that?" she persisted. "_Do_ you know?"

"Eh?. .. Oh, no, no; of course not. .. . I--I think I saw your mother goin'out of the gate as I came across lots. She--I presume likely she wasgoin' to the store or somewhere. "

"She didn't tell me she was going. Was she alone?"

"Why--why, no; I think--seems to me Mr. Phillips was with her. "

For the next few minutes the captain devoted his entire attention to theletter he was writing. He did not look up, but he was quite consciousthat her eyes were boring him through and through. During the rest ofhis stay she was curt and cool. When he went she did not bid himgood-by. 

So the fuse was burning merrily and the inevitable explosion came threedays later. The scene was this time not the Fair Harbor office, but theMinot kitchen. Judah was out and the captain was alone, reading the_Item_. The fire in the range was a new one and the kitchen was verywarm, so Sears had opened the outer door in order to cool off a bit. Itwas a beautiful late October forenoon. 

The captain was deep in the _Item's_ account of the recent wreck onPeaked Hill Bars. A British bark had gone ashore there and the crew hadbeen rescued with difficulty. He was himself dragged, metaphoricallyspeaking, from the undertow by a voice just behind him. 

"Well, you're takin' it easy, ain't you, Cap'n Sears?" observed Mrs. Tidditt. "I wish _I_ didn't have nothin' to do but set and read thenews. "

"Oh, good mornin', Esther, " said the captain. He was not particularlyglad to see her. "What's wrong; anything?"

"Nothin' but my batch of gingerbread, and a quart of molasses'll savethat. Can you spare it? Oh, don't get up. I know where Judah keeps it;I've been here afore. "

She went to the closet, found the molasses jug, and filled her pitcher. Then she came back and sat down. She had not been invited to sit, butEsther scorned ceremony. 

"No, sir, " she observed, as if carrying on an uninterruptedconversation, "_I_ can't set and read the newspapers. And I can't go towalk neither, even if 'tis such weather as 'tis to-day. Some folks can, though, and they've gone. "

Sears turned the page of the _Item_. He made no comment. His silence didnot in the least disturb his caller. 

"Yes, they've gone, " she repeated. "Right in the middle of the forenoon, too. .. . Oh, well! when the Admiral of all creation comes to get you togo cruisin' along with him, you go, I suppose. That is, some folks do. I'd like to see the man _I'd_ make such a fool of myself over. "

The captain was reading the "Local Jottings" now. Mrs. Tidditt keptserenely on. 

"I wouldn't let any man make such a soft-headed fool of me, " shedeclared. "'Twould take more than a mustache and a slick tongue to get_my_ money away from me--if I had any. "

Sears was obliged to give up the Jottings. He sighed and put down thepaper. 

"What's the matter, Esther?" he asked. "Who's after your money?"

"Nobody, and good reason why, too. And I ain't out cruisin' 'round thefields with an Eg neither. "

"With an egg? Who is?"

"Who do you think? Cordelia Berry, of course. Him and her have gone forwhat he calls a little stroll. He said she was workin' her poor braintoo hard and a little fresh air would do her good. Pity about her poorbrain, ain't it? Well, if 'twan't a poor one he'd never coax her intomarryin' _him_, that's sartin. "

"Esther, don't talk foolish. "

"Nothin' foolish about it. If them two ain't keepin' company then Inever saw anybody that was. He's callin' on her, and squirin' her'round, and waitin' on her mornin', noon and night. And she--mypatience! she might as well hang out a sign, 'Ready and Willin'. ' Shesays he's the one real aristocrat she has seen since she left herfather's home. Poor Cap'n Ike, he's all forgotten. "

Sears stirred uneasily. Barring Tidditt exaggeration, he was inclined tobelieve all this very near the truth. It merely confirmed his ownsuspicions. 

His visitor went gayly on. "I'm sorry for Elizabeth, " she said. "I don'tknow whether the poor girl realizes how soon she's liable to have thatEg for a step-pa. I shouldn't wonder if she suspected a little. I don'tsee how she can help it. But, Elviry Snowden--oh, dear, dear! If _she_ain't the sourest mortal these days. I do get consider'ble fun out ofElviry. She's the one thing that keeps me reconciled to life. "

The captain thought he saw an opportunity to shift Mrs. Berry from thelimelight and substitute some one else. 

"I thought Elvira Snowden was the one you said meant to get Egbert, " hesuggested. 

"So I did, and so she was. But she don't count nowadays. "

"Why doesn't she?"

"Well, if you ask me I shall give you an answer. Elviry Snowden ain'tfell heir to five thousand dollars and Cordelia Berry has. That's why. "

Sears uneasily shifted again. This conversation was following much tooclosely his own line of reasoning. 

"Five thousand isn't any great fortune, " he observed, "to a man likePhillips. "

The little woman nodded. "It's five thousand dollars to a man just_like_ Phillips--now, " she said, significantly. "And, more'n that, Cordelia's matron at the Harbor. The Fair Harbor ain't a Eyetalianpalace maybe, but it's a nice, comf'table place where the matron'shusband might live easy and not pay board. .. . That's _my_ guess. Otherfolks can have theirs and welcome. "

"But----"

"There ain't no buts about it, Cap'n Kendrick. You know it's so. EgPhillips is goin' to marry Cordelia Berry. My name ain't Elijah norJeremiah--no, nor Deuteronomy nuther--but I can prophesy that much. "

She rose with a triumphant bounce, turned to the open door behind her, and saw Elizabeth Berry standing there. Sears Kendrick saw her at thesame time. 

There are periods in the life of each individual when it seems as ifFate was holding a hammer above that individual's head and, atintervals, as the head ventures to lift itself, knocking it down again. Each successive tap seems a bit harder, and the victim, during theinterval of its falling, wonders if it is to be the final and finishingthump. 

Sears did not wonder this time, he knew. His thought, as he saw herthere, saw the expression upon her face and realized what she must haveheard, was: "Here it is! This is the end. "

Yet he was the first of the two to speak. Elizabeth, white and rigid, said nothing, and even Mrs. Tidditt's talking machinery seemed to betemporarily thrown out of gear. So the captain made the attempt, afeeble one. 

"Why, Elizabeth, " he faltered, "is that you?. .. Come in, won't you?"

She did come in, that is, she came as far as the door mat. Then sheturned, not to him, but to his companion. 

"What do you mean by speaking in that way of my mother?" she demanded. 

Esther was still a trifle off balance. Her answer was rather incoherent. 

"I--I don't know's I--as I said--as I said much of anything--much, " shestammered. 

"I heard you. How dare you tell such--such _lies_?"

"Lies?"

"Yes; mean, miserable lies. What else are they? How dare you run to--to_him_ with them?"

Mrs. Tidditt's hand, that grasping the handle of the molasses pitcher, began to quiver. Her eyes, behind her steel-rimmed spectacles, winkedrapidly. 

"Elizabeth Berry, " she snapped, with ominous emphasis, "don't you talkto me like that!"

"I shall talk to you as--as. .. . Oh, I should be ashamed to talk to youat all. My mother--my kind, trustful, unsuspecting mother! And you--youand he _dare_----"

Kendrick, in desperation, tried to put in a word. 

"Elizabeth, " he begged, "don't misunderstand. Esther hasn't been runnin'here to tell me things. She came over to borrow some molasses fromJudah, that's all. "

"Oh, stop! I tell you I heard what she said. And you were listening. Listening! Without a word of protest. I suppose you encouraged her. Ofcourse you did. No doubt this isn't the first time. This may be herusual report. Not content with--with prying into closets and--and coalbins and--and----"

"Elizabeth!"

"Doing these things for yourself was not enough, I suppose. You mustencourage her--pay her, perhaps--to listen and whisper scandal and tospy----"

"Stop! Stop right there!" The captain was not begging now. Even in themidst of her impassioned outburst the young woman paused, haltedmomentarily by the compelling force of that order. But she haltedunwillingly. 

"I shall not stop, " she declared. "I shall say----"

"You have said a whole lot too much already. And you don't mean what youhave said. "

"I do! I do! Oh, I can't tell you what I think of you. "

"Well, " dryly, "you have made a pretty fair try at tellin' it. If it iswhat you really think of me it'll do--it will be quite enough. I shan'tneed any more. "

He was looking at her gravely and steadily and before his look her owngaze wavered. If they had been alone it is barely possible that . .. Butthey were not alone. Mrs. Tidditt was there and, by this time, as Judahwould have said, "her neck-feathers were on end" and her spurs sharpenedfor battle. She hopped into the pit forthwith. 

"_I_ need consider'ble more, " she cackled, defiantly. "I've been calleda spy and a scandal whisperer and the Lord knows what else. Now I'll saysomethin'. "

"Esther, be still. "

"I shan't be still till I'm ready, not for you, Sears Kendrick, nor forher nor nobody else. I ain't a spy, 'Liz'beth Berry, and I ain't paid byno livin' soul. But I see what I see with the eyes the Almighty give meto see with, and after I've seen it--not alone once but forty dozentimes--I'll talk about it if I want to, when I want to, to anybody Iwant to. Now that's that much. "

Elizabeth, scornfully silent, was turning to the door, but the littlewoman hopped--that seems the only word which describes it--in her way. 

"You ain't goin', " she declared, "till I've finished. 'Twon't take melong to say it, but it's goin' to be said. I told Cap'n Sears that EgPhillips was chasin' 'round with your mother. He is. And if she ain'tglad to have him chase her then I never see anybody that was. I saidthem two was cal'latin' to get married. Well . .. Well, if they ain'tthen they'd ought to be, that's all I'll say about _that_. And don't youever call me a spy again as long as you live, 'Liz'beth Berry. "

She hopped again, to the doorway this time. There she turned for afarewell cackle. 

"One thing more, " she said. "I told the cap'n I believed the reason thatthat Eg man wanted to marry Cordelia was on account of her bein' able togive him five thousand dollars and the Fair Harbor to live in. I dobelieve it. And you can tell her so--or him so. But afore I told anybodyI'd think it over, if I was you, 'Liz'beth Berry. And I'd think _him_over a whole lot afore I'd let him and his 'ily tongue make troublebetween you and your _real_ friends. .. . There! Good-by. "

She went away. Kendrick pulled at his beard. 

"Elizabeth, " he began, hastily, "I'm awfully sorry that this happened. Of course you know that I----"

She interrupted him. "I know, " she said, "that if I ever speak to youagain it will be because I am obliged to, not because I want to. "

She followed Mrs. Tidditt. Sears Kendrick sat down once more in therocking chair. 

He did a great deal of hard and unpleasant thinking before he rose fromit. When he did rise it was to go to the drawer in the bureau of thespare stateroom where he kept his writing materials, take therefrom pen, ink and paper and sit down at the table to write a letter. The letterwas not long of itself, but composing it was a rather lengthy process. It was addressed to Elizabeth Berry and embodied his resignation astrustee and guardian of her inheritance from Judge Knowles. 

 * * * * *

"As I see it [he wrote] I am not the one to have charge of that money. Itook the job, as you know, because the judge asked me to and because youasked me. I took it with a good deal of doubt. Now, considering the wayyou feel towards me, I haven't any doubt that I should give it up. Idon't want you to make the mistake of thinking that I feel guilty. Sofar as I know I have not done anything which was not square and honestand aboveboard, either where you were concerned, or your mother, or whatI believed to be the best interests of the Fair Harbor. And I am notgiving up my regular berth as general manager of the Harbor itself. Judge Knowles asked me to keep that as long as I thought it wasnecessary for the good of the institution. I honestly believe it is morenecessary now than it ever was. And I shall stay right on deck until Ifeel the need is over. I shan't bother you with my company any more thanI can help, but you will have to put up with it about every once in sooften while we go over business affairs. So much for that. Thetrusteeship is different and I resign it to Mr. Bradley, who was thejudge's second choice. "

 * * * * *

He paused here, deliberated for a time, and then added anotherparagraph. 

 * * * * *

"I feel sure Bradley will take it [he wrote]. If he should refuse I willnot give it up to any one else. At least not unless I am perfectlysatisfied with the person chosen. This is for your safety and for noother reason. "

 * * * * *

He sent the letter over by Judah. Two days later he received a reply. It, too, was brief and to the point. 

 * * * * *

"I accept your resignation [wrote Elizabeth]. It was Judge Knowles' wishthat you be my trustee, and, as you know, it was mine also. Apparentlyyou no longer feel bound by either wish, and of course I shall not begyou to change your mind. I have no right to influence you in any way. Ihave seen Mr. Bradley and he has consented to act as trustee for me. Hewill see you in a day or two. As for the other matters I have nothing tosay. Whenever you wish to consult with me on business affairs I shall beready. "

 * * * * *

There was a postscript. It read:

"I feel that I should thank you for what you have already done. I dothank you sincerely. "

 * * * * *

So that ended it, and ended also what had been a happy period for SearsKendrick. He made no more informal daily visits to the Fair Harbor. Twice a week, at stated times, he and Elizabeth met in the office andconferred concerning bills, letters and accounts. She was calm andimpersonal during these interviews, and he tried to be so. There was noreference to other matters and no more cheerful and delightful chats, nomore confidences between them. It did seem to him that she was moreabsent-minded, less alert and attentive to the business details than shehad been, and at times he thought that she looked troubled and careworn. Perhaps, however, this was but his imagining, a sort of reflection ofhis own misery. For he was miserable--miserable, pessimistic and prettythoroughly disgusted with life. His health and strength were gainingalways, but he found little consolation in this. He could not go to seajust yet. He had promised Judge Knowles to stick it out and stick hewould. But he longed--oh, how he longed!--for the blue water and a deckbeneath his feet. Perhaps, a thousand miles from land, with a galeblowing and a ship to handle, as a real deep-sea skipper he couldforget--forget a face and a voice and a succession of silly fancieswhich could not, apparently, be wholly forgotten by the middle-agedskipper of an old women's home. 

One morning, after a troubled night, on his way to a conference withElizabeth at the Fair Harbor office, he met Mr. Egbert Phillips. Thelatter, serene, benign, elegant, was entering at the gateway beneath theswinging sign which proclaimed to the other world that within the Harborall was peace. Of late Captain Kendrick had found a certain flavor ofirony in the wording of that sign. 

Kendrick and Phillips reached the gate at the same moment. Theyexchanged good mornings. Egbert's was sweetly and condescendinglygracious, the captain's rather short and brusque. Since the encounter inthe office where, in the presence of Elizabeth, Phillips' politeinuendoes had goaded Sears into an indiscreet revelation of his realfeeling toward the elegant widower--since that day relations betweenthe two had been maintained on a basis of armed neutrality. They bowed, they smiled, they even spoke, although seldom at length. Kendrick hadmade up his mind not to lose his temper again. His adversary should nothave that advantage over him. 

But this morning to save his life he could not have appeared asunruffled as usual. The night had been uncomfortable, his wakingthoughts disturbing. His position was a hard one, he was feelingrebellious against Fate and even against Judge Knowles, who, as Fate'sagent, had gotten him into that position. And the sight of the tallfigure, genteelly swinging its cane and beaming patronage upon the worldin general, was a little too much for him. So his good morning was moreof a grunt than a greeting. 

It may be that Egbert noticed this. Or it may be that with his triumphso closely approaching a certainty he could not resist a slight gloat. At all events he paused for an instant, a demure gleam in his eye andthe corner of his lip beneath the drooping mustache lifting in an amusedsmile. 

"A beautiful day, Captain, " he said. 

Kendrick admitted the day's beauty. He would have passed through thegateway, but Mr. Phillips' figure and Mr. Phillips' cane blocked theway. 

"It seems to me that we do not see as much of you here at the Harbor aswe used, Captain Kendrick, " observed Egbert. "Or is that my fancymerely?"

The captain's answer was noncommittal. Again he attempted to pass andagain the Phillips' walking-stick casually prevented. 

"I trust that nothing serious has occurred to deprive us of yoursociety, Captain?" queried the owner of the stick, solicitously. "Noaccident, no further accident, or anything of that sort?"

"No. "

"And you are quite well? Pardon me, but I fancied that youlooked--ah--shall I say disturbed--or worried, perhaps?"

"No. I'm all right. "

"I am so glad to hear it. I gathered--that is, I feared that perhaps thecares incidental to your--" again the slight smile--"your labors asgeneral supervisor of the Harbor might be undermining your health. I amcharmed to have you tell me that that is not the case. "

"Thanks. "

"Of course--" Mr. Phillips drew a geometrical figure with thecane in the earth of the flower bed by the path--"of course, " hesaid, "speaking as one who has had some sad experience with illnessand that sort of thing, it has always seemed to me that one shouldnot take chances with one's health. If the cares of a particularavocation--situation--position--whatever it may be--if the caresand--ah--disappointments incidental to it are affecting one's physicalcondition it has always seemed to me wiser to sacrifice the first forthe second. And make the sacrifice in time. You see what I mean?"

Kendrick, standing by the post of the gateway, looked at him. 

"Why, no, " he said, slowly, "I don't know that I do. What do you mean?"

The cane was drawn through the first figure in the flower bed and beganto trace another. Again Mr. Phillips smiled. 

"Why, nothing in particular, my dear sir, " he replied. "Perhaps nothingat all. .. . I had heard--mere rumor, no doubt--that you contemplatedgiving up your position as superintendent here. I trust it is not true?"

"It isn't. "

"I am delighted to hear you say so. We--we of the Harbor--should missyou greatly. "

"Thanks. Do you mind telling me who told you I was goin' to give up thesuperintendent's position?"

"Why, I don't remember. It came to my ears, it seemed to be a sort ofgeneral impression. Of course, now that you tell me it is not true Ishall take pains to deny it. And permit me to express my gratification. "

"Just a minute. Did they say--did this general impression say why I wasgivin' up the job?"

"No-o, no, I think not. I believe it was hinted that you were not welland--perhaps somewhat tired--a little discouraged--that sort of thing. As I say, it was mere rumor. "

Sears smiled now--that is, his lips smiled, his eyes were grave enough. 

"Well, " he observed, deliberately, "if you have a chance, Mr. Phillips, you can tell those mere rumorers that I'm not tired at all. My health isbetter than it has been for months. So far from bein' discouraged, youcan tell 'em that--well, you know what Commodore Paul Jones told theBritish cap'n who asked him to surrender; he told him that he had justbegun to fight. That's the way it is with me, Mr. Phillips, I've justbegun to fight. "

The cane was lifted from the flower bed. Egbert nodded in politeappreciation. 

"Really?" he said. "How interesting, Captain!"

Kendrick nodded, also. "Yes, isn't it?" he agreed. "Were you goin' intothe Harbor, Phillips? So am I. We'll walk along together. "

But that night he went to his bed in better spirits. Egbert's little dighad been the very thing he needed, and now he knew it. He had beendiscouraged; in spite of his declaration in his letter to ElizabethBerry, he had wished that it were possible to run away from the FairHarbor and everything connected with it. But now--now he had no wish ofthat kind. If Judge Knowles could rise from the grave and bid him quithe would not do it. 

Quit? Not much! Like Paul Jones, he had just begun to fight. 

CHAPTER XV

But there was so little that was tangible to fight, that was thetrouble. If Mr. Egbert Phillips was the villain of the piece he was sucha light and airy villain that it was hard to take him seriously enough. Even when Kendrick was most thoroughly angry with him and mostcompletely convinced that he was responsible for all his own troubles, including the loss of Elizabeth Berry's friendship--even then he foundit hard to sit down and deliberately plan a campaign against him. Itseemed like campaigning against a butterfly. The captain disliked himextremely, but he never felt a desire to knock him down. To kickhim--yes. Perhaps to thump the beaver hat over his eyes and help himdown the brick path of the Harbor with the judicious application of aboot, grinning broadly during the process--that was Sears Kendrick'sidea of a fitting treatment for King Egbert the Great. 

The captain had done his share of fighting during an adventurouslifetime, but his opponents had always been men. Somehow Phillips didnot seem to him like a man. A creature so very ornamental, with so muchflourish, so superlatively elegant, so overwhelmingly correct, soaltogether and all the time the teacher of singing school or dancingschool--how could one seriously set about fighting such a bundle offluff? A feather-duster seemed a more fitting weapon than a shotgun. 

But the fluff was flying high and in the sunshine and was already farout of reach of the duster. Soon it would be out of reach of theshotgun. Unless the fight was made serious and deadly at once therewould be none at all. Unless having already lost about all that madelife worth living, Sears Kendrick wished to be driven from Bayport ininglorious rout, he had better campaign in earnest. Passive resistancemust end. 

As a beginning he questioned Judah once more concerning Phillips'standing in the community. It was unchanged, so Judah said. He was quiteas popular, still the brave and uncomplaining martyr, always the idol ofthe women and a large proportion of the men. 

"Did you hear about him down to the Orthodox church fair last week?"asked Mr. Cahoon. "You didn't! Creepin'! I thought everybody aboard hadheard about that. Seems they'd sold about everything there was to sell, but of course there was a few things left, same as there always is, andamongst 'em was a patchwork comforter that old Mrs. Jarvis--Capn'Azariah Jarvis's second wife she was--you remember Cap'n Azariah, don'tye, Cap'n Sears? He was the one that used to swear so like fury. Didn'tmean nothin' by it, just a habit 'twas, same as usin' tobacco or rum iswith some folks. Didn't know when---- Eh? Oh, yes, about that comforter. Why, old Mrs. Jarvis she made it for the fair and it wan't sold. 'Twasone of them log-cabin quilts, you know. I don't know why they call 'emlog cabins, they don't look no more like a log cabin than my head does. I cal'late they have to call 'em somethin' so's to tell 'em from therisin' sun quilts and the mornin'-glory quilts and--and theLord-knows-what quilts. The womenfolks make mo-ore kinds of them quiltsand comforters, seems so, than----

"Eh? Oh, yes, I'm beatin' up to Egbert, Cap'n Sears; I'll be alongsidehim in a minute, give me steerage way. Well, the log-cabin quilt wan'tsold and they wanted to sell it, partly because old Mrs. Jarvis wouldfeel bad if nobody bought it, and partly because the meetin'-house folkswould feel worse if any money got away from 'em at a fair. So Mr. Dishuphe says, 'We'll auction of it off, ' he says, 'and our honored andbeloved friend, Mr. Phillips, will maybe so be kind enough to act asauctioneer. ' So Eg, he got up and apologized for bein' chose, and wenton to say what a all-'round no-good auctioneer he'd be but how hecouldn't say no to the folks of the church where his dear diseased wifehad worshiped so long, and then he started in to sell that comforter. Did he _sell_ it? Why, creepin', crawlin', hoppin' . .. Cap'n Sears, hecould have sold a shipload of them log-cabins if he'd had 'em handy. Heheld the thing up in front of 'em, so they tell me, and he just praisedit up same as John B. Gough praises up cold water at a temp'rancelecture. He told how the old woman had worked over it, and set up nightsover it, and got her nerves all into a titter and her finger ends allrags, as you might say, and how she had done it just to do somethin' forthe meetin'-house she thought so much of, the church that her loved andlost husband used to come to so reg'lar. _That_ was all fiddlesticks, 'cause Cap'n Az never went to church except for the six weeks after hewas married, and pretty scattern' 'long the last three of _them_. 

"Well, he hadn't talked that way very long afore he had that wholevestry as damp as a fishin' schooner's deck in a Banks fog. Allhands--even the men that had been spendin' money for the fair things, tidies and aprons and splint work picture-frames and such, even they wascryin'. And then old Mrs. Jarvis--and she was cryin', too--she went andwhispered to the minister and he whispered to Phillips and Phillips, hesays: 'Ladies and gentlemen, ' he says, 'I have just learned that a partof this quilt was made from a suit of clothes worn by Cap'n Jarvis onhis last v'yage, ' he says. '_Just_ think of it, ' says he, 'this bluestrip here is a part of the coat worn by him as he trod the deck of hisship homeward bound--bound home to his wife, bound home to die. '

"Well, all hands cried more'n ever at that, and Mrs. Jarvis got up, withthe tears a-runnin', and says she: 'It wan't his coat, ' she says. 'Isold the coat and vest to a peddler. 'Twas his----' But Egbert cut inafore she could tell what 'twas, and then he got 'em to biddin'. Creepin' Henry, Cap'n Sears! that log-cabin quilt sold for nine dollarsand a half, and the man that bought it was Philander Comstock, thetailor over to Denboro. And Philander told me himself that he didn'tknow why he bought it. '_I_ made that suit of clothes for Cap'n Azariah, myself, ' he says, 'and he died afore I got half my pay for it. But thatPhillips man, ' he says, 'could sell a spyglass to a blind man. '"

The captain asked Judah if he had heard any testimony on the other side;were there any people in Bayport who did not like Mr. Phillips. Judahthought it over. 

"We-ll, " he said, reflectively, "I don't know as I've ever heard anybodycome right out and call him names. Anybody but Esther Tidditt, that is;she's down on him like a sheet anchor on a crab. Sometimes Elviry snapsout somethin' spiteful, but most of that's jealousy, I cal'late. Yousee, Elviry had her cap all set for this Egbert widower--that is, allhands seems to cal'late she had--and then she began to find her nose wasbein' put out of j'int. You know who they're sayin' put it out, Cap'nSears? There seems to be a general notion around town that----"

Kendrick interrupted; this was a matter he did not care to discuss withJudah or any one else. There had been quite enough said on that subject. 

"Yes, yes, all right, Judah, " he said, hastily. "But the men? Do the menlike him as well as the women?"

"Why--why, yes, I guess so. Not quite so well, of course. That wouldn'tbe natural, would it, Cap'n Sears?"

"Perhaps not. But have you ever heard any man say anything against him, anything definite? Does he pay his bills?"

"Eh? Why, I don't know. I ain't never----"

"All right. Who does he chum around with mostly? Who are his bestfriends?"

Mr. Cahoon gave a list of them, beginning of course with the Wingatesand the Dishups and the members of the Shakespeare Reading Society andending with George Kent. 

"He cruises along with George a whole lot, " declared Judah. "Them twoare together about half the time. George don't work to the store nomore. You knew that, didn't you?"

If Sears had heard it, he had forgotten. Judah went on to explain. 

"He hove up his job at Eliphalet's quite a spell ago, " he said "He'sstudyin' law along with Bradley same as ever, but 'he's busy lawin' herein Bayport, too. Some of his relations died and left a lot of money, sofolks tell, and George is what they call administer of the estate. It'san awful good thing for him, all hands cal'late. Some say he's rich. "

The captain vaguely remembered Kent's disclosure to him concerning hisappointment as administrator of his aunt's estate. He had not exchangeda word with the young man since the evening of the latter's call andElizabeth's interruption. It seemed a long while ago. Much--and so muchthat was unpleasant--had happened since then. Kent and he had met, ofcourse, and on the first two or three occasions, Kendrick had spoken. The young fellow had not replied. Now, at the mention of his name, Kendrick felt an uneasy pang, almost of guilt. He had done nothingwrong, of course yet if it had not been for him perhaps the two youngpeople might still have been friends or even more than friends. It wastrue that Elizabeth had told him but there, what difference did it makewhat she told him? She had told him other things since, things that hecould not forget. 

"Well, all right, Judah, " he said. "It wasn't important. Run along. "

Judah did not run along. He remained, looking at his lodger with atroubled expression. The latter noticed it. 

"What is it, Judah?" he asked. "Anything wrong?"

Mr. Cahoon's fingers moved uneasily through the heavy foliage upon hischin. "Why--why, Cap'n Sears, " he stammered, "can I ask you somethin'?"

"Certain. Fire away. "

"Well--well--it--it ain't true, is it, that you done anything to setElizabeth Berry against that young Kent feller? You never told hernothin'--or did nothin'--or--or----"

He seemed to find it hard to finish his sentence. The captain did notwait, but asked a question of his own. 

"Who said I did, Judah?" he asked. 

"Hey?. .. Oh, I--I don't know. Why--why, some of them sculpin'-mouthsdown to the store they say that you--that you told Elizabeth a lot ofthings--or did somethin' or 'nother to spite George with her. Of course_I_ knew 'twan't so, but--but----"

"But they said it was, eh? Well, it isn't true. I haven't done anythingof that kind, Judah. "

The Cahoon fist descended upon the kitchen table with a thump. "I knewit!" roared Judah. "I knew dum well 'twas a cargo of lies. Now justwait. Let one of them swabs just open his main hatch and start to unloadanother passel of that cargo. If I don't----"

"Shh, shh! Don't do that. I tell you what to do. If you want to help me, Judah, you say nothin', but try and find out who told them these things. Some one has been pretty busy tellin' things to my discredit for sometime. Don't let any one know what you're after, but see if you can findout who is responsible. Will you?"

"Sartin sure I will. And when I do find out----"

"When you do, let me know. And Judah, one thing more: Find out all thatyou can find out about this Phillips man. See if he owes anybody money. See if he pays his debts. See if he--well, find out all you can abouthim; but don't let any one know you're tryin' to find out, that's all. Do you understand?"

"Eh?. .. Why, I guess likely I do. .. . But--but. .. . Eh? Cap'n Sears, doyou mean to say you cal'late that that Eg Phillips is at the back of allthis talk against you in Bayport? Do you mean that?"

"Humph! So there is talk against me; a lot of it, I suppose?"

Judah forgot to be discreet. "Talk!" he shouted. "There's moreunderhand, sneakin' lies about you goin' around this flat-bottomed, leaky, gurry-and-bilgewater tub of a town than there is fiddlers inTophet. I've denied 'em and contradicted 'em till I'm hoarse fromhollerin'. I've offered to fight anybody who dast to say they was true, but, by the hoppin' Henry, nobody ever said any more than that they'dheard they was. And I never could find out who started 'em. And do youmean to say you believe that long-legged critter with the beaver hat andthe--the mustache like a drowned cat's tail is responsible?"

Captain Kendrick hesitated for an instant. Then he nodded. "I think heis, Judah, " he said, solemnly. 

"Then, by the creepin', crawlin'----"

"Wait! I don't know that he is. I don't know much about him. But I meanto find out all about him, if I can. And I want you to help me. "

"I'll help. And when you find out, Cap'n?"

"Well, that depends. If I find out anything that will give me thechance, I'll--I'll smash him as flat as that. "

_He_ struck the table now, with his open palm. Mr. Cahoon grinneddelightedly. 

"I bet you will, Cap'n Sears!" he vowed. "And if he ain't flat enoughthen I'll come and jump on him. And I ain't no West Injy hummin'-birdneither. "

Kendrick's next move was to talk with his sister. Her visits at theMinot place had not been quite as frequent of late. She came, of course, but not as often, or so it seemed to the captain, and when she came shecarefully avoided all reference to her new boarder. Sears knew thereason, or thought he did. He had hurt her feelings by intimating thatMr. Phillips might not be as altogether speckless as she thought him. Hehad not enthused over her giving up the best parlor to his Egbertshipand Sarah was disappointed. But, loyal and loving soul that she was, shewould not risk even the slightest disagreement with her brother, and sowhen she called, spoke of everything or everybody but the possible causeof such disagreement. Yet the cause was there and between brother andsister, as between Elizabeth and Sears, lay the slim, lengthy, gracefully undulating shadow of Judge Knowles' pet bugbear, who wasrapidly becoming Sears Kendrick's bugbear as well. 

The captain had not visited the Macomber home more than twice sinceJudah carted him away from it in the blue truck-wagon. One fine day, however, he and the Foam Flake made the journey again, although with thebuggy, not the wagon. He chose a time when he knew Kent was almostcertain to be over at Bradley's office in Orham and when Phillips wasnot likely to be in his rooms. Of course there was a chance that hemight encounter the latter, but he thought it unlikely. His guess was agood one and Egbert was out, had gone for a ride, so Mrs. Macomber said. Mrs. Cap'n Elkanah Wingate had furnished the necessary wherewithal forriding. "The Wingates let him use their horse and team real often, " saidSarah. "They're awful fond of him, Mrs. Wingate especial. I don't knowas Cap'n Elkanah is so much; he is kind of cross-grained sometimes andit's hard for him to like anybody very long. "

She was hard at work, ironing this time, but she would have put theflatiron back on the stove and taken her brother to the sitting room ifhe had permitted. "The idea of a man like you, Sears, havin' to sit onan old broken-down chair out here in the wash-shed, " she exclaimed. "Itain't fittin'. "

The captain sniffed. "I guess if it's fittin' for you to be workin' outhere I shouldn't complain at sittin' here, " he observed. "Is that Joel'sshirt? He's gettin' awfully high-toned--and high collared, seems to me. "

Mrs. Macomber was slightly confused. "Why, no, " she said, "this isn'tJoe's shirt. It's Mr. Phillips's. Ain't it lovely linen? I don't know asI ever saw any finer. "

Her brother leaned back in the broken chair. "Do you do his washin' forhim, Sarah?" he demanded. 

"Why--why, yes, Sears. You see, he's real particular about how it'sdone, and of course you can't blame him, he has such lovely things. Hetried two of the regular washwomen, Elsie Doyle and Peleg Carpenter'swife, and they did 'em up just dreadful. So, just to help him out onetime, I tried 'em myself. And they came out real nice, if I do say it, and he was so pleased. So ever since then I have been doin' 'em forhim. It's hardly any trouble--any extra trouble. I have to do our ownwashin', you know. "

Sears did know, also he knew the size of that washing. 

"Does he pay you for it?" he asked, sharply. "Pay you enough, I mean?"

"Why--why, yes. Of course he doesn't pay a whole lot. Not as much maybeas if he was a stranger, somebody who didn't pay me regular board, youknow. "

"Humph! Do you get your money?"

"Why, yes. Of course I do. "

"He doesn't owe you anything, then, for board or lodgin' or anything?"

Mrs. Macomber hesitated. "Nothin' much, " she replied, after a moment. "Of course he gets a little behind sometimes, everybody does that, youknow. But then his dividend payments or somethin' come to him and hepays right up in a lump. It's kind of nice havin' it come that way, seems more, you know. "

"Yes. So long as it keeps on comin'. His dividends, you say? I thoughtthe story was that he hadn't any stocks left to get dividends from. Ithought he told all hands that he was poverty-stricken, that when he wascut out of the Harbor property and the fifty thousand he hadn't acopper. "

"Oh no not as bad as that. He had some stocks and bonds, of course. Why, if he hadn't where would he get _any_ money from? How could he live?"

"I don't know. He seems to be livin', though, and pretty well. Has hegot the parlor yet?"

"Yes, and it's fixed up so pretty. He's got his pictures and thingsaround. Wouldn't you like to see it? He's out, you know. "

They went into the parlor and the bedroom adjoining, that which thecaptain had occupied during his stay. Both rooms were as neat aswax--Sears expected that, knowing his sister's housekeeping--but he hadscarcely expected to find the rooms so changed. The furniture was thesame, but the wall decorations were not. 

"What's become of the alum basket and the wax wreath and the Rock ofAges chromo?" he asked. 

"Oh, he took 'em down. That is, he didn't do it himself, of course, buthe had Joel do it. They're up attic. Mr. Phillips said they was so likethe things that his wife used to have in the dear old home that hecouldn't bear to see 'em. They reminded him so of her. He asked if wewould mind if they was removed and we said no, of course. "

"Humph! And the Macomber family coffin plates, those you had set out onblack velvet with all Joel's dead relations names on 'em, in the plushand gilt frame? Are those up attic, too?"

"Yes. "

"I should have thought 'twould have broken Joel's heart to part with_them_!"

"Sears, you're makin' fun. I don't blame you much. I always did hatethose coffin plates, but Joel seemed to like 'em. They were in hisfolks' front parlor, he says. "

"Yes. That 'Death of Washin'ton' picture and the rounder-case thing withthe locks of hair in it were there, too, you told me once. That musthave been a lively room. Those--er--horse pictures are Egbert's, Isuppose?"

"Yes. He is real fond of horses. "

The "horse pictures" were colored plates of racers. 

"That's a portrait of his wife over there, " explained Sarah. "She had itpainted in Italy on purpose for him. "

"Is that so? Well, I'm glad it was for him. I shouldn't think it washardly fittin' for anybody outside the family. Of course Italy's a warmclimate, but----"

"_Sears!_" Mrs. Macomber blushed. "Of course I didn't mean _that_picture, " she protested. "And you know I didn't. I wouldn't have thatone up at all if I had _my_ way. But he says it's an old master and veryfamous and all like that. Maybe so, but I'm thankful the children ain'tallowed in here. That's Lobelia over there. "

In the bedroom were other pictures, photographs for the most part. Manyof them were autographed. 

"They're girl friends of his wife's, " said Sarah. "She met 'em overabroad. Real pretty, some of them, ain't they?"

They were, and the inscriptions were delightfully informal and friendly. Lobelia Phillips' name was not inscribed, but her husband's wasoccasionally. Upon the table, by a half-emptied cigar box, lay a Bostonpaper of the day before. It was folded with the page of stock marketquotations uppermost. Sears picked it up. One item was underscored witha pencil. It was the record of the day's sales of "C. M. , " a stock withwhich the captain was quite unfamiliar. His unfamiliarity was notsurprising; he had little acquaintance with the stock market. 

Back in the wash-shed, brother and sister chatted while the ironingcontinued. Sears led the conversation around until it touched uponGeorge Kent. George was still boarding with them, so Sarah said. Yes, hehad given up his place as bookkeeper at Bassett's store. 

"He's administrator of his aunt's estate, " she went on. "You knew that, Sears? It's a pretty responsible position for such a young man, I guess. I'm afraid it's a good deal of worry for him. He's seemed to me kind oftroubled lately. I thought at first it might be on account of ElizabethBerry--everybody knows they've had some quarrel or somethin'--but I'mbeginnin' to be afraid it may be somethin' else. He and Mr. Phillips aretogether about all the time. They're great friends, and I'm so glad, because if George _should_ be in any trouble--about business oranything--a man of Mr. Phillips' experience would be a wonderful friendto have. "

"What makes you think it may be a business trouble?" asked the captain, casually. 

Mrs. Macomber hesitated. "Why, " she said, "I heard somethin' yesterdaythat made me think so. It wasn't meant for me to hear, but I justhappened to. I don't know as I'd ought to say anything about it--Ishouldn't to anybody but you, Sears--yet it has worried me a good deal. Mr. Phillips and George were standin' together in the hall as I went by. They didn't see me, and I heard George say, 'Somethin' _must_ be doneabout it, ' he says. 'It can't go on for another week. ' And Mr. Phillipssaid, kind and comfortin'--nice as he always is, but still it did seemto me a little mite impatient--'I tell you it is all right, ' he said. 'Wait a while and it will be all right. ' Then George said somethin' thatI didn't catch, and Mr. Phillips said, 'But I can't, I tell you. I'm inexactly the same boat. ' And George said, 'You've _got_ to! you've gotto! If you don't it'll be the end of me. ' That was what he said--'Itwill be the end of me. ' And oh, Sears, he did sound _so_ distressed. Ithas troubled me ever since. What do you suppose it could be that wouldbe the end of him?"

Her brother shook his head. "Give it up, " he said. "Humph!. .. And Egbertsaid he was in the same boat, did he? That's interestin'. It must be apretty swell liner; he wouldn't be aboard anything else. "

But Mrs. Macomber declined to joke. "You wouldn't laugh, " she declared, "if you had heard George talk. He's just a boy, Sears, a realkind-hearted, well-meanin' boy, and I hate to think of him as in anymore trouble. "

"Any more? What do you mean by more?"

"Why--why--oh, well, everybody knows he and Elizabeth ain't keepin'company any longer. And--and----"

"And everybody thinks I am to blame. Well, I'm not, Sarah. Notintentionally, anyhow. And, if George would let me, I should be glad tobe a friend of his. Not as grand and top-lofty a friend as AdmiralEgbert, of course, but as good as my rank and ratin' in life will let mebe. "

"Sears, " reproachfully, "I hate to hear you speak in that sarcastic way. And I can't see why you mistrust Mr. Phillips so. "

"Can't you? Well, I don't know as I can, myself; but if I live longenough I may find a reason. .. . As for Kent--well, I tell you, Sarah: Youkeep an eye on the boy. If he still seems worried, or more worried, andyou think it advisable, you might give him a message from me. You remindhim that one time he told me if he ever got into real trouble he shouldcome to me for help. You can say--if you think it advisable--that I amjust as willin' to give that help now as ever I was. "

"Oh, Sears, do you mean it? Why, I thought--I was afraid that you andhe----"

"That's all right. I am the young fellow's friend--if he wants me to be. And, although I'm a thousand sea miles from guaranteein' to be able tohelp him, I'm willin' to try my hardest. .. . But there! the chances arehe won't listen if you do tell him, so use your own judgment in thematter. But, Sarah, will you do me a favor?"

"Sears! How can you! As if I wouldn't do anything for you!"

"I know you would. And this isn't so very much, either. I'm kind ofinterested in this Phillips man's dividends and things. I'd like to knowhow he makes his money. I noticed that that newspaper in his room wasfolded with the stock price page on top. Is he interested in stock andsuch things?"

"Why, yes, he is. I've heard him and George talkin' about what they callthe 'market. ' That means stocks, doesn't it?"

"Um-hm, usually. Well, Sarah, if he happens to mention any particularstock he owns, or anything like that, try and remember and let me know, will you?"

"Yes, of course, if you want me to. But why, Sears? There's nothingwrong in a man like Mr. Phillips bein' interested in such things, isthere? I should think it would be--well, sort of natural for a personwho has been rich as he used to be to keep up his interest. "

"I presume likely it is. "

"Then why do you want to know about it?"

The captain picked up his hat. "Oh, for no particular reason, maybe, Sarah, " he replied. "Perhaps _I_ shall be rich sometime--if I live to bea hundred and eighty and save a dollar a day as I go along--and then Ishall want to know how to invest my money. Let me know if you hearanything worth while, won't you, Sarah?"

"Yes, Sears. And if I get a chance I am goin' to tell George what yousaid about bein' his friend and willin' to help him. Good-by, Sears. I'm_so_ glad you came down. Come again soon, won't you? You're the onlybrother I've got, you know. "

Kendrick drove the Foam Flake back to the Minot place, reflecting duringthe journey upon what he had seen and heard while visiting his sister. It amounted to very little in the way of tangible evidence againstEgbert Phillips. Sporting prints and dashing photographs wereinteresting perhaps, and in a way they illuminated the past; but theydid not illumine the present, they shed no light upon their owner'smeans of living, nor the extent of those means. Egbert occupied the bestrooms at the Macomber's, but, apparently, he paid for his board andlodging--yes, and his washing. He might be interested in stocks, butthere was nothing criminal in that, of itself. The Kendrick campaignwas, so far, an utter failure. 

Another week dragged by with no developments worth while. Judah, muchinflated with the importance of his commission as a member of theKendrick secret service, made voluminous and wordy reports, but theyamounted to nothing. Mr. Phillips had borrowed five dollars of CalebSnow. Had he paid the debt? Oh, yes, he had paid it. He smoked"consider'ble many" cigars, "real good cigars, too; cost over ten centsa piece by the box, " so he told Thoph Black. But, so far as Black orJudah knew, he had paid for them. He owed a fair-sized bill at thelivery-stable, but the stable owner "wan't worried none. " There waslittle of interest here. No criminal record, rather the contrary. 

Esther Tidditt dropped in from time to time, loaded, as Judah said, "tothe guards" with Fair Harbor gossip. Captain Sears did not encourage hervisits. Aside from learning what he could concerning the doings ofEgbert Phillips, he was little interested in petty squabbles andwhispers among the "mariners' women. " Except by Esther he was almostentirely ignored by the inmates. Elizabeth he saw daily for a shorttime, but for her sake he made those times as brief as he could. Hermother he saw occasionally; she spoke to him only when necessary. Elvira, Mrs. Brackett, Desire Peasly and the rest gave him the snippiestof bows when they met and whispered and giggled behind his back. 

It had seemed to him that Elizabeth looked more careworn of late. He didnot mention it to her, of course, but it troubled him. He speculatedconcerning the cause and was inclined, entirely without good reason, tosuspect Egbert, just as he was inclined to suspect him of being thecause of most unpleasantness. Something that Mrs. Tidditt said duringone of her evening "dropping-ins" supplied a possible base for suspicionin this particular case. 

"Elizabeth and her mother has had some sort of a rumpus, " declaredEsther. "They ain't hardly on speakin' terms with one another thesedays. That is, " she added, "Cordelia ain't. I guess likely Elizabethwould be as nice as she always is if her ma would give her the chance. Cordelia goes around all divided up between tears and joy, as you mightsay. When she's nigh her daughter she looks as if she was just aboutready to cry--lee scuppers all awash, as my husband used to say when Iwas in the same condition; which wan't often, for cryin' ain't much inmy line. Yes, when Elizabeth's lookin' at her she's right on the raggededge of tears. But you let that dratted Eg heave in sight with all sailsot and signals flyin' and she's all smiles in a minute. Oh, what a foola fool woman can be when she sets out to be!. .. Hey? What did you say, Cap'n Kendrick?"

"I didn't say anything, Esther. "

"Oh, didn't you? I thought you did. There's one ray of comfort overacrost, anyhow. Elizabeth ain't in love with old Eggie, even if hermother is. She and he have had a run-in or I miss my guess. "

The captain was interested now. "What makes you think that?" he asked. 

"Oh, from things I've seen. He's all soft soap and sweet ile to her sameas he always was--little more so, if anything--but she is cold as thebottom of a well to him. No, they've had a row and of course thereason's plain enough. That night over here when she called me a spy anda lot more names I told her a few things for her own good. I told hershe had better think over what I said about that Eg's schemin' to gether mother and the five thousand dollars. I told her to think that overand think Eg over, too. She was terribly high and mighty then, but I betyou she's done some thinkin' since. Yes, and come to the conclusionthat, spy or no spy, I was tellin' the plain truth. .. . Hey, Cap'nKendrick?"

"Eh?. .. Oh, yes, yes; I shouldn't wonder, Esther. "

"I shouldn't wonder, neither. But it won't have no effect on Cordelia. She'd put her best Sunday bonnet on the ground and let that Eg dance thegrand fandango on it if he asked her to. Poor, soft-headed critter. "

"Yes, yes. .. . Humph! Any other news? How is Elvira?"

"Oh, she's full of spite and jealousy as a yeast jug is full of pop. Shepretends that the idea of anything serious between Cordelia and Phillipsis just silliness. Might as well talk about King Solomon in all hisglory marryin' the woman that done his washin'--that's what she pretendsto believe. It's all Cordelia and not Eg at all, that's what she says. But she knows better, just the same. She's got somethin' else to thinkabout now. That aunt of hers over to Ostable, the one that owns themiron images she wanted the Harbor to buy--she's sick, the aunt is. Elviry's pretty worried about her; she's the old woman's only relation. "

Kendrick had heard nothing further from his sister in the matter ofyoung Kent and his trouble, whatever the latter might be. Sears hadpondered a good deal concerning it and tried to guess in what possibleway the boy could be "in the same boat" with Egbert. There was littleuse in guessing, however, and he had given up trying. And another weekpassed, another fruitless, dreary, hopeless week. 

Judah's lodge night came around again and Mr. Cahoon, after asking hisskipper's permission, departed for the meeting, leaving Sears Kendrickalone. It was a beastly November evening, cold and with a heavy rainbeating against the windows of the Minot kitchen, and a wind whichshrieked and howled about the corners and gables of the old house, rattled every loose shingle, and set the dry bones of the wisteria vinescratching and thumping against the walls. The water was thrown inbucketfuls against the ancient panes and poured from the sashes as ifthe latter were miniature dams in flood time. 

Sears sat by the kitchen stove, smoking and trying to read. He couldmake a success of the smoking, but the attempt at reading was a failure. It was so much easier to think, so much easier to let his thoughts dwellupon his own dismal, wretched, discouraging story than to follow thefortunes of Thaddeus of Warsaw through the long succession of printedpages. And he had read Thaddeus's story before. He knew exactly how itwould end. But how would his own story end? He might speculate much, butnowhere in all his speculations was there a sign of a happy ending. 

His pipe went out, he tossed the book upon the table among the supperdishes--Judah had been in too great a hurry to clear away--and leanedback in his chair. Then he rose and walked--he could walk pretty wellnow, the limp was but slight--to the window and, lifting the shade, peered out. 

He could see nothing, or almost nothing. The illumined windows madeyellow pools of light upon the wet bricks below them, and across thedarkness above were shining ribbons of rain. Against the black skyshapes of deeper blackness were moving rapidly, the bare thrashingbranches of the locust tree. It was a beastly night, so he thought as helooked out at it; a beastly night in a wretched world. 

Then above the noises of screeching wind and splashing water he heardother sounds, sounds growing louder, approaching footsteps. Some one wascoming up the walk from the road. 

He thought of course that it was Judah returning. He could not imaginewhy he should return, but it was more impossible to imagine any oneelse being out and coming to the Minot place on such a night. A figure, bent to the storm, passed across the light from the window. CaptainKendrick dropped the shade and strode through the little entry to theback door. He threw it open. 

"Come in, Judah, " he ordered. "Come in quick, before we both drown. "

But the man who came in was not Judah Cahoon. He was George Kent. 

CHAPTER XVI

The young man plunged across the threshold, the skirts of his drippingovercoat flapping about his knees and the water pouring from the brim ofhis hat. He carried the ruin of what had been an umbrella in his hand. It had been blown inside out, and was now but a crumpled tangle of wetfabric and bent and bristling wire. He stumbled over the sill, halted, and turning, addressed the man who had opened the door. 

"Cap'n, " he stammered, breathlessly, "I--I--I've come to see you. I--Iknow you must think--I don't know what you can think--but--but----"

Kendrick interrupted. He was surprised, but he did not permit hisastonishment to loosen his grip on realities. 

"Go in the other room, " he ordered. "In the kitchen there by the fire. I'll be with you soon as I shut this door. Go on. Don't wait!"

Kent did not seem to hear him. 

"Cap'n, " he began, again, "I----"

"Do as I tell you. Go in there by the stove. "

He seized his visitor by the shoulder and pushed him out of the entry. Then he closed and fastened the outer door. This was a matter of mainstrength, for the gale was fighting mad. When the latch clicked and thehook dropped into the staple he, too, entered the kitchen. Kent hadobeyed orders to the extent of going over to the stove, but he had notremoved his hat or coat and seemed to be quite oblivious of them or thefire or anything except the words he was trying to utter. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " he began again, "I----"

"Sshh! Hush! Take off your things. Man alive, you're sheddin' waterlike a whistlin' buoy. Give me that coat. And that umbrella, what thereis left of it. That's the ticket. Now sit down in that rocker and putyour feet up on the hearth. .. . Whew! Are you wet through?"

"No. No, I guess not. I----"

"Haven't got a chill, have you? Can't I get you somethin' hot to drink?Judah generally has a bottle of some sort of life-saver hid around inthe locker somewhere. A hot toddy now?. .. Eh? Well, all right, allright. No, don't talk yet. Get warm first. "

Kent refused the hot toddy and would have persisted in talking at onceif his host had permitted. The latter refused to listen, and so theyoung man sat silent in the rocking chair, his soaked trouser legs andboots steaming in the heat from the open door of the oven, while thecaptain bustled about, hanging the wet overcoat on a nail in the corner, tossing the wrecked umbrella behind the stove and pretending not to lookat his caller. 

He did look, however, and what he saw was interesting certainly andmight have been alarming had he been a person easily frightened orunduly apprehensive. Kent's wet cheeks had dried and they were flushednow from the warmth, but they were haggard, his eyes were underscoredwith dark semicircles, and his hands as he held them over the red-hotstove lids were trembling. He looked almost as if he were sick, but asick man would scarcely be out of doors in such a storm. He had, apparently, forgotten his desire to talk, and was now silent, his gazefixed upon the wall behind the stove. 

Kendrick quietly placed a chair beside him and sat down. 

"Well, George?" he asked. 

Kent started. "Oh!" he exclaimed. And then, "Oh, yes! Cap'n Kendrick, I--I know you must think my coming here is queer, after--after----"

He hesitated. The captain helped him on. 

"Not a bit, George, " he said. "Not a bit. I'm mighty glad to see you. Itold you to come any time, you remember. Well, you've come, haven't you?Now what is it?"

Kent's gaze left the wall and turned toward his companion. "Cap'nKendrick, " he began, then stopped. "Cap'n Kendrick, " he repeated, "I--Mrs. Macomber said--she told me you said that--that----"

"All right, George, all right. I told her to remind you that one timeyou promised to come to me if you was in any--er--well, trouble, or ifyou had anything on your mind. I judge that's what you've come for, isn't it?"

Kent started violently. His feet slipped from the hearth and struck thefloor with a thump. 

"How did you know I was in trouble?" he demanded. "Who told you? Didthey tell you what----"

"No, no, no. Nobody told me anything especial. Sarah did say you hadn'tlooked well lately and she was afraid you was worried about somethin'. That's all. I've been worried myself durin' my lifetime and I'vegenerally found it helped a little to tell my worries to somebody else. At any rate it didn't do any harm. What's wrong, George? Nothin'serious, I hope. "

Kent breathed heavily. "Serious!" he repeated. "I--I. .. . " Then in asudden outburst: "Oh, my God, Cap'n Kendrick, I think they'll put me injail. "

Sears looked at him. Then, leaning forward, he laid a hand on the boy'sknee. 

"Nonsense, George, " he exclaimed, heartily. "Stuff and nonsense! Theydon't put fellows like you in jail. You're scared, that's all. Tell meabout it. "

"But they will, they will. You don't know Ed Stedman. He doesn't likeme. He always has had it in for me. He's prejudiced Clara against me andshe hates me, too. They're pressing me for the money now. The lastletter I had from them Stedman said he wouldn't wait another fortnight. And a week is gone already. He'll----"

"Hold on. Who's Stedman?"

"Oh, I thought you knew. He's my half-sister's husband up inSpringfield. When my aunt died. .. . But I told you I was administrator ofher estate. I remember I told you. That day when----"

"Yes, yes, I remember; that is, I remember a little. Tell me the wholeof it. What's happened?"

"Yes--yes, I want to. I'm going to. Oh, if you _can_ help me I'll--I'llnever forget it. I'll do anything for you, Cap'n Kendrick. I know Ishouldn't have done it. I had no right to take the risk. But Mr. Phillips said--he said----"

"Eh?" Sears' interruption this time was quite unpremeditated. "Phillips?" he repeated, sharply. "Egbert, you mean? Oh, yes. .. . Humph. .. . Is he mixed up in this?"

"Why--why, yes. If it hadn't been for him it wouldn't have happened. Idon't mean that he is to blame, exactly. I guess nobody is to blame butmyself. But when I think---- Oh, Cap'n Kendrick, do you suppose you canhelp me out of it? If you can, I----"

Here followed another outburst of agonized entreaty. The boy's nerveswere close to breaking, he was almost hysterical. Slowly and with theexercise of much patience and tact the captain drew from him the detailsof his trouble. It was, as he told it, a long and complicated story, but, boiled down, it amounted to something like this:

Kent and Phillips had been very friendly for some time, their intimacybeginning even before the latter came to board at Sarah Macomber's. Egbert's polished manners, his stories of life abroad, his easycondescending geniality, had from the first made a great impression uponGeorge. The latter, already esteeming himself above the average ofmentality and enterprise in what he considered the "slow-poke" town ofBayport, found in the brilliant arrival from foreign parts thepersonification of his ideals, a satisfying specimen of that much readof _genus_, "the complete man of the world. " He fell on his knees beforethat specimen and worshiped. Such idolatry could not but have someeffect, even upon as _blasé_ an idol as Mr. Phillips, so the latter atfirst tolerated and then even encouraged the acquaintanceship. He beganto take this young follower more and more into his confidence, to speakwith him concerning matters more intimate and personal. 

George soon gathered that Egbert had been much in moneyed circles. Hespoke casually of the "market" and referred to friends who had made andremade fortunes in stocks, as well as of others whose horses had broughtthem riches, or who had brought off what he called _coups_ at foreigngaming tables. The young man, who had been brought up in a strictPuritanical household, was at first rather shocked at the thought ofgambling or racing, but Mr. Phillips treated his prejudices in acondescendingly joking way, and Kent gradually grew ashamed of his"insularity" and _bourgeois_ ideas. Egbert habitually read the stockquotations in the Boston _Advertiser_ and the mails brought him brokers'circulars and letters. Kent was led to infer that he still took a small"flyer" occasionally. "Nothing of consequence, my boy, nothing to getexcited about; haven't the wherewithal since our dear friend Knowles andhis--ah--satellites took to drawing wills and that sort of thing. But ifmy friends in the Street send me a bit of judicious advice--as they dooccasionally, for old times' sake--why, I try to cast a few crumbs uponthe waters, trusting that they may be returned, in the shape of a smallloaf, after not too many days. Ha, ha! Yes. And sometimes they doreturn--yes, sometimes they do. Otherwise how could I rejoice in thegood, but sometimes tiresome, Mrs. Macomber's luxurious hospitality?"

It seemed an easy way to turn one's crumbs into loaves. Kent, now thepossessor of the little legacy left him by his aunt, wished that theeight hundred dollars, the amount of that legacy, might be raised toeight thousand. He was executor of the small estate, which was to beequally divided between his half-sister and himself. There had been alittle land involved, that had been sold and the money, most of it, paidhim. So he had in his possession about sixteen hundred dollars, half hisand half Mrs. Stedman's. If he could do no better than double his owneight hundred it would not be so bad. He wished that _he_ had friendsin the Street. 

He hinted as much to Phillips. The latter was, as always, generouslykind. "If I get the word of another good thing, my boy, I shallbe glad to let you in. Mind, I shan't advise. I shall take noresponsibility--one mustn't do that. I shall only pass on the good wordand tell you what I intend doing myself. " George, very grateful, feltthat this was indeed true friendship. 

The chance at the good thing came along in due season. The New Yorkbrokerage firm wrote Phillips concerning it. It appeared that there wasa certain railway stock named Central Midland Common. According to thegossip on the street, Central Midland--called C. M. For short--was justabout due for a big rise. Certain eminent financiers and manipulatorswere quietly buying and the road was to be developed and exploited. Onlya few, a select few, knew of this and so, obviously, now was the time toget aboard. Kent asked questions. Was Egbert going to get aboard? Egbertsmilingly intimated that he was thinking of it. Would it be possible forhim, Kent, to get aboard at the same time? Well, it might be; Egbertwould think about that, too. 

He did think about it and, as a result of his thinking, he and Kentbought C. M. Common together. Of course to buy any amount worth whilewould be impossible because of the small amount of ready cash possessedby either. "But, " said Phillips, "I seldom buy outright. The latestquotation of C. M. Is at 40, or thereabouts. I intend buying about twohundred shares. That would be eight thousand dollars if I paid cash, butof course I can't do that. I shall buy on a ten per cent margin, puttingup eight hundred. If it goes up twenty points I make two thousanddollars. If it goes up fifty points, as they say it will, why----" Andso on. 

It ended--or began--by Phillips and Kent buying, as partners, fourhundred shares of C. M. On a ten per cent margin. George turned over toEgbert the eight hundred dollars in cash, and Egbert sent to the brokerssix hundred of those dollars and a bond, which he had in hispossession, for one thousand dollars. Yes, Kent, had seen the broker'sreceipt. Yes, the bond was a good one; at least the brokers wereperfectly satisfied. Where did Egbert get the bond? Kent did not know. It was one he owned, that is all he knew about it. 

For a week or so after the purchase was made C. M. Common did continueto rise in price. At one time they had a joint profit of nearly twothousand dollars. Of course that seemed trifling compared with thethousands they expected, and so they waited. Then the market slumped. Intwo days their profit had gone and C. M. Common was selling severalpoints below the figure at which they purchased. By the end of thefourth day, unless they wished to be wiped out altogether, additionalmargin--another ten per cent--must be deposited immediately. 

And to George Kent this seemed an impossibility because he had notanother eight hundred, or anything like it, of his own. 

Why, oh, why, had he been such a fool? In his chagrin, disappointmentand discouragement he asked himself that question a great many times. But when he asked it of his partner in the deal that partner laughed athim. According to Phillips he had not been a fool at all. The slump wasonly temporary; the stock was just as good as it had ever been; all thiswas but a part of the manipulation, the insiders were driving down theprice in order to buy at lower figures. And letters from the brokersseemed to bear this out. Nevertheless the fact remained that more marginmust be deposited and where was Kent's share of that margin coming from?

The rest of the story was exactly like fifty thousand similar stories. In order to save the eight hundred dollars of his own George put up asmargin with the New York brokers the eight hundred dollars belonging toMrs. Stedman, his half sister. Again he paid the eight hundred toPhillips, who sent to New York another one thousand dollar bond and sixhundred in cash. And C. M. Common continued to go down, went down untilonce more the partners were in imminent danger of being wiped out. Thenit rose a point or so, and there the price remained. All at once everyone seemed to lose interest in the stock; instead of thousands of sharesbought and sold daily, the sales dropped to a few odd lots. And insteadof the profits which were to have been theirs by this time, the firm ofPhillips and Kent owned together a precarious interest in four hundredshares of Central Midland Common which if sold at present prices wouldreturn them only a minimum of their investment, practically nothing whenbrokerage commissions should be deducted. 

And then Edward Stedman, Kent's brother-in-law, demanded an immediatesettlement of the estate. The land had been sold, the estate had beensettled--he knew it--now he and his wife wanted their share. 

So that was the situation which was driving the young fellow todesperation. _What_ could he do? He could not satisfy Stedman because hehad not eight hundred dollars and he could not confess it, at least notwithout answering questions which he did not dare answer. As mattersstood he was a thief; he had taken money which did not belong to him. Heand Stedman had not been friendly for a long time. According to Georgehis brother-in-law would put him in jail without the slightestcompunction. And, even if he managed--which he was certain he couldnot--to avoid imprisonment, there was the disgrace and its effect uponhis future. Why, if the affair became known, at the very least hiscareer as a lawyer would be ruined. Who would trust him after this? Hewould have to go away; but where could he go? He had counted on hislittle legacy to help him get a start, to--to help him to all sorts ofthings. Now---- Oh, what _should_ he do? Suicide seemed to be the solesolution. He had a good mind to kill himself. He should--yes, he wasalmost sure that he should do that very thing. 

It was pitiful and distressing enough, and Kendrick, although he did nottake the threat of self-destruction very seriously--somehow he couldscarcely fancy George Kent in the role of a suicide--was sincerelysorry for the boy. He did his best to comfort. 

"There, there, George, " he said, "we won't talk about killin' ourselvesyet awhile. Time enough to hop overboard when the last gun's fired, andwe haven't begun to take aim yet. Brace up, George. You'll get throughthe breakers somehow. "

"But, Cap'n Kendrick, I can't--I can't. I've got only a week or so left, and I haven't got the money. "

"Sshh! Sshh! Because you haven't got it now doesn't mean you won't haveit before the week's out--not necessarily it doesn't. .. . Humph! Let'stake an observation now, and get our bearin's, if we can. You've talkedthis over with Egbert--with Phillips, of course. After all, he was thefellow that got you into it. What does he say?"

It appeared that Mr. Phillips said little which was of immediate solace. He professed confidence unbounded. C. M. Was a good stock, it was goinghigher, all they had to do was wait until it did. 

"Yes, " put in Sears, "that's good advice, maybe, but it's too much liketellin' a man who can't swim to keep up till the tide goes out and he'llbe in shallow water. The trouble is neither that man nor you could keepafloat so long. Is that all he said? He understands your position, doesn't he, George?"

Yes, Mr. Phillips understood, but he could do nothing to help. He had nomoney to lend--had practically nothing except the two one thousanddollar bonds, and those were deposited as collateral with the brokers. 

"Um--ye-es, " drawled Kendrick. "Those bonds are interestin' ofthemselves. We'll come to those pretty soon. But hasn't he got _any_ready money? Seems as if he must have a little. Why, you paid himsixteen hundred in cash and, accordin' to your story, he sent onlytwelve hundred along with the bonds. He must have four hundred left, atleast. That is, unless he's been heavin' overboard more 'crumbs' thatyou don't know about. "

Kent knew nothing of his partner's resources beyond what the latter hadtold him. And, at any rate, what good would four hundred be to him?Unless he could raise eight hundred within the week----

"Yes, yes, yes, I know. But four hundred is half of eight hundred andseems to me if I was in his shoes and had been responsible for gettin'you into a clove hitch like this I'd do what I could to get you out. Andhe couldn't--or wouldn't--do anything; eh?"

"He can't, Cap'n Kendrick. He can't. Don't you see, he hasn't got it. He's poor, himself. Of course he came here to Bayport, after his wife'sdeath, thinking that he owned the Fair Harbor property and--and a lotmore. Why, he thought he was rich. _He_ didn't know that old Knowles hadused his influence with Mrs. Phillips when she was half sick and trickedher into----"

"Here, here!" The captain's tone was rather sharp this time. "Never mindthat. Old Knowles, as you call him, was a friend of mine. .. . I thoughthe was your friend, too, George, for the matter of that. "

George was embarrassed. "Well, he was, " he admitted. "I haven't gotanything against him; in fact he was very good to me. But that is whatMr. Phillips says, you know, and everybody--or about everybody--seems tobelieve it. At least they are awfully sorry for Phillips. "

"So I judged. But about you, now. Do _you_ believe in--er--Saint Egbertas much as you did?"

"Why--why, I don't know. I---- Of course it seems almost as if he oughtto do something to help me, but if he can't he can't, I suppose. "

"I suppose not. Look here, he won't tell anybody about your scrape, willhe?"

The junior partner in the firm of Phillips and Kent was indignant. 

"Of course not, " he declared. "He told me he should not breathe a word. And he is really very much disturbed about it all. He told me himselfthat he felt almost guilty. Mr. Phillips is a gentleman. "

"Is that so? Must be nice to be that way. But tell me a little moreabout those bonds, George. There were two of 'em, you say, a thousanddollars each. "

"Yes. "

"And you don't know what sort of bonds they were?"

His visitor's pride was touched. "Why, of course I know, " he declared. "What sort of a business man would I be if I didn't know that, forheaven's sake?"

Sears did not answer the question. For a moment it seemed that he wasgoing to, but if so, he changed his mind. However, there was an odd lookin his eye when he spoke. 

"Beg your pardon, George, " he said. "I must have misunderstood you. Whatbonds were they?"

"They were City of Boston bonds. Seems to me they were--er--er--well, Iforget just what--er--issue, you know, but that's what they were, Cityof Boston bonds. "

"I see . .. I see. .. . Humph! Seems kind of odd, doesn't it?"

"What?"

"Oh, nothin'. Only Phillips, accordin' to his tell, is pretty close topoverty. Yet he hung on to those two bonds all this time. "

"Well, he had to hang on to something, didn't he? And he probably has a_little_ more; if he hasn't what has he been living on?"

"Yes, that's so--that's so. Still. .. . However, we won't worry aboutthat. Now, George, sit still a minute and let me think. "

"But, Cap'n Kendrick, do you think there is a chance? I'm almost crazy. I--I----"

"Sshh! shh! I guess likely we'll get you off the rocks somehow. Let methink a minute or two. "

So Kent possessed his soul in such patience as it could muster, whilethe wind howled about the old house, the wistaria vine rattled andscraped, the shutters groaned and whined, and the rain dashed and pouredand dripped outside. At length the captain sat up straight in his chair. 

"George, " he said, briskly, "as I see it, first of all we want to findout just how this affair of yours stands. You write to those New Yorkbrokers and get from them a statement of your account--yours andEgbert's. Just what you've bought, how much margin has been put up, howmuch is left, about those bonds--kind, ratin', numbers and all that. Ask'em to send you that by return mail. Will you?"

"Why--why, yes, I suppose so. But I have seen all that. Mr. Phillips----"

"We aren't helpin' out Phillips now. He isn't askin' help, at least Igather he's satisfied to wait. You get this statement on your own hook, and don't tell him you're gettin' it. Will you?"

"I'll write for it to-night. "

"Good! That'll get things started, anyhow. Now is there anything elseyou want to tell me?"

"No--no, I guess not. But, Cap'n Kendrick, do you honestly think thereis a chance for me?"

For an instant his companion lost patience. "Don't ask that again, " heordered. "There is a chance--yes. How much of a chance we can't tellyet. You go home and stop worryin'. You've turned the wheel over to me, haven't you? Yes; well, then let me do the steerin' for a spell. "

Kent rose from his chair. He drew a long breath. He looked at thecaptain, who had risen also, and it was evident that there was stillsomething on his mind. He fidgeted, hesitated, and then hurried forth alabored apology. 

"I--I am awfully ashamed of myself, Cap'n Kendrick, " he began. 

"That's all right, George. We all make mistakes--business mistakesespecially. If I hadn't made one, and a bad one, I might not be strandedhere in Judah's galley to-night. "

"I didn't mean business. I meant I was ashamed of treating you as Ihave. Ever since that time when--when Elizabeth was here and I came overand--and said all those fool things to you, I--I've been ashamed. I_was_ a fool. I am a fool most of the time, I guess. "

"Oh, I guess not, George. We're all taken with the foolish disease oncein a while. "

"But I was such a fool. The idea of my being jealous of you--a manpretty nearly old enough to be my father. No, not so old as that, ofcourse, but--older. I don't know what ailed me, but whatever it was, I've paid for it. .. . She--she has hardly spoken to me since. "

"I'm sorry, George. "

"Yes. .. . Has she--has she said anything about me to you, Cap'n?"

"Why--er--no, George, not much. She and I are not--well, not veryconfidential, outside of business matters, that is. "

"No, I suppose not. Mr. Phillips told me she had--well, that she and youwere not--not as----"

"Yes, all right, all right, George; I understand. Outside of Fair Harbormanagin' we don't talk of many things. "

"No, that's what he said. He seemed to think you two had had some sortof quarrel--or disagreement, you know. But I never took much stock inthat. After all, why should you and she be interested in the same sortof things? She isn't much older than I am, about my age really, and ofcourse you----"

"Yes, yes, " hastily. "All right. .. . Well, I guess your coat is middlin'dry, George. Here it is. "

"Thanks. But that wasn't all I meant to say. You see, Cap'n Kendrick, Idid treat you so badly and yet all the time I've had such confidence inyou. Ever since you gave me that advice the night of the theatricalsI've--well, somehow I've felt as if a fellow could depend on you, youknow--always, in spite of everything. Eh, why, by George, _she_ saidthat very thing about you once, said it to me. She said you were sodependable. Say, that's queer, that she and I should both think the verysame thing about you. "

"Um-m. Yes, isn't it?"

"Yes. It shows, after all, how closely alike our minds, hers and mine, work. We"--he hesitated, reddened, and then continued, with a freshoutburst of confidence: "You see, Cap'n, " he said, "I have felt all thetime that this--this trouble between Elizabeth and me, wasn't going tolast. I was to blame--at least, I guess I probably was, and I meant togo to her and tell her so. But I waited until--until I had pulled offthis stock deal. I meant to go to her with two or three thousand dollarsthat I had made myself, you see, and--and ask her pardon and--well, thenI hoped she would--would. .. . You understand, don't you, Cap'n Kendrick?"

"Why--er--yes, I guess likely, George, in a way. "

"Yes. I wanted to show her that I _was_ good for something, andthen--and then, maybe it would be all right again. You see?"

"Surely, George. Yes, yes. .. . Ready for your coat?"

Kent ignored the coat. He did not seem to realize that his companion washolding it. "Yes, " he stammered, eagerly. "I think if I went to her inthat way it would be all right again. I was hasty and--and silly maybe, but perhaps I had some excuse. And, Cap'n Kendrick, I'm sure shedoes--er--like me, you know. I'm sure of it. .. . But now--" as realitycame once more crashing through his dream, "I--I---- Oh, think of menow! I may be put in prison. And then. .. . Oh, but Cap'n Kendrick, that'swhy I came to you. I knew you'd stand by me, I knew you would. I treatedyou damnably, but--but you know, it was on account of her, really. Iknew you'd understand that. You won't hold a grudge against me? Youreally will help me? If you don't----"

Kendrick seized his arm. "Shut up, George, " he commanded brusquely. "Shut up. I'll get you out of this, I promise it. "

"You will? You promise?"

"Yes. That is, I'll see that you don't go to jail. If we can't get theeight hundred of your sister's from these brokers I'll get itsomehow--even if I have to borrow it. "

"Oh, Great Scott, that's great! That's wonderful. I can hardly believeit. I'll make it up to you somehow, you know. You're the best man I everknew. And--and--if she and I--that is, when she and I are--are as weused to be--well, then I shall tell her and she'll be as grateful as Iam, I know she will. "

"All right, George, all right. Run along. The rain's easin' up a little, so now's your time. Don't forget to write to those brokers. .. . Goodnight. "

"Good night, Cap'n. I shall tell your sister how good you've been to me. She told me to come to you. Of course she doesn't know why I came, but----"

"No, and she mustn't know. Don't you tell her or anybody else. Don't youdo it. "

"I--why, I won't if you say so, of course. Good night. "

Kendrick closed the door. Then he came back to his seat before thestove. When Judah returned home he found that his lodger had gone to thespare stateroom, but he could hear his footsteps moving back and forth. 

"Ahoy, there, Cap'n Sears!" hailed Judah. "What you doin', up and pacin'decks this time of night? It's pretty nigh eight bells, didn't you knowit?"

The pacing ceased. "Why, no, is it?" replied the captain's voice. "GuessI'd better be turnin' in, hadn't I? How's the weather outside?"

"Fairin' off fast. Rain stopped and it's clear as a bell over to thewest'ard. Clear day and a fair wind to-morrer, I cal'late. "

Kendrick made no further comment and Judah prepared for bed, singing ashe did so. He sang, not a chantey this time, but portions of a revivalhymn which he had recently heard and which, because of its nauticalnature, had stuck in his memory. The chorus commanded some one or otherto

 "Pull for the shore, sailor, Pull for the shore. Leave that poor old stranded wreck And pull for the shore. "

Mr. Cahoon sang the chorus over and over. Then he ventured to tackle oneof the verses. 

 "Light in the darkness, sailor, Day is at hand. "

"Judah!" This from the spare stateroom. 

"Aye, aye, Cap'n Sears. "

"Better save the rest of that till the day gets here, hadn't you?"

"Eh? Oh, all right, Cap'n. Just goin' to douse the glim this minute. Good night. "

Three days after this interview in the Minot kitchen George Kent againcame to call. He came after dark, of course, and his visit was brief. Hehad received from the New York brokers a detailed statement of his andPhillips' joint account. The statement bore out what he had already toldSears. Four hundred shares of Central Midland Common had been purchasedat 40. Against this the partners deposited sixteen hundred dollars. Later they had deposited another sixteen hundred. The New York firm wereas confident as ever that the stock was perfectly good and thespeculation a good one. They advised waiting and, if possible, buyingmore at the present low figure. 

All this was of little help. The only information of any possible valuewas that concerning the bonds which Egbert had contributed as his shareof the margin. Those, according to the brokers, were two City of Boston4-1/2s, of one thousand dollars each, numbered A610, 312 and A610, 313. 

Kent would have stayed and talked for hours if Kendrick had permitted. He was as nervous as ever, even more so, because the days were passingand the time drawing near when his brother-in-law would demandsettlement. The captain comforted him as well as he could, bade himwrite his sister or her husband that he would remit early in thefollowing week, and sent him home again more hopeful, but still veryanxious. 

"I don't see how I'm going to get the money, Cap'n Kendrick, " he keptrepeating. "I don't see how all this helps us a bit. I don't see----"

Kendrick interrupted at last. 

"You don't have to see, " he declared. "You've left it to me, now let mesee if _I_ can see. I told you that, somehow or other, I'd tow you intodeep water. Well, give me a chance to get up steam. You write thatletter to your brother-in-law and hold him off till the middle of nextweek. That's all you've got to do. I'll do the rest. "

So Kent had to be satisfied with that. He departed, professing over andover again his deathless gratitude. "If you do this, Cap'n Kendrick, " heproclaimed, "I never, never will forget it. And when I think how Itreated you I can't see why you do it. I never heard of such----"

"Sshh! shhh!" The captain waved him to silence. "I don't know why I amdoin' it exactly, George, " he said. 

"I do. You're doing it for my sake, of course, and----"

"Sshh! I don't know as I am--not altogether. Maybe I'm doin' it to tryand justify my own judgment of human nature--mine and Judge Knowles'. Ifthat judgment isn't right then I'm no more use than a child in arms, andI need a guardian as much as--as----"

"As I do, you mean, I suppose. Well, I do need one, I guess. But I don'tunderstand what you mean by your judgment of human nature. Who have youbeen judging?"

"Never mind. Now go home. Judah's out again and that's a mercy. I don'twant him or any one else to know you come here to see me. "

George went, satisfied for the time, but Sears Kendrick, left face toface with his own thoughts, knew that he had told the young man but apart of the truth. It was not for Kent's sake alone that he had made therash promise to get back eight hundred of the sixteen hundred, oranother eight hundred to take its place. Neither was it entirely becausehe hoped to confirm his judgment in the case of Egbert Phillips. Thereal reason lay deeper than that. Kent had declared that he still lovedElizabeth Berry and that he had reason to think she returned that love. Perhaps she did; in spite of some things she had said after theirquarrel, it was possible--yes, probable that she did. If, by saving herlover from disgrace, he might insure her future and her happiness, then--then--Sears would have made rasher promises still and haveundertaken to carry them out. 

The brokers' letter helped but little, if any. He entered the names andnumbers of the bonds in his memorandum book. Those bonds still perplexedhim. He could not explain them, satisfactorily. It might be that Egberthad more left from his wife's estate than Judge Knowles expected him tohave or that Bradley was inclined to think he had. Lobelia's willbequeathed to her beloved husband "all stocks, bonds, securities, etc. , "remaining. But Knowles had more than intimated that none remained. Thepictures of the horses and the ladies in Egbert's room at SarahMacomber's confirmed the captain's belief that the Phillips past hadbeen a hectic one. It seemed queer that, out of the ruin, there shouldhave been preserved at least two thousand dollars in good American--yes, City of Boston--bonds. 

In the back of the Kendrick head was a theory--or the ghost of atheory--concerning those bonds. He did not like to believe it, he wouldnot believe it yet, but it was a possibility. Elizabeth had beenbequeathed twenty thousand dollars. She and Egbert had been closefriends for a time. She had liked him, had trusted him. Of late, soEsther Tidditt said, that friendship had been somewhat strained. Was itpossible that. .. . Humph! Well, Bradley might know. He was Elizabeth'sguardian, he would know if her investments had been disturbed. 

Then, too, if worst came to the worst and he had to raise the eighthundred, which he had promised Kent, by borrowing it, he could, hethought, arrange to get from Bradley an advance of that amount, or apart of it, against his salary as manager of the Fair Harbor. 

So he determined, as the next move, to go to Orham and visit the lawyer. On Saturday morning, therefore, he and the Foam Flake once morejourneyed along the wood road to Orham. 

CHAPTER XVII

The trip was cold and long and tedious. The oaks and birches were bareof leaves and the lakes and little ponds looked chill and forbidding. Judah's prophecy of a clear day was only partially fulfilled, for therewere great patches of clouds driving before the wind and when thoseobscured the sun all creation looked dismal enough, especially toKendrick, who was in the mood where any additional gloom was distinctlysuperfluous. But the Foam Flake jogged on and at last drew up beside theBradley office. 

Another horse and buggy were standing there and the captain was somewhatsurprised to recognize the outfit as one belonging to the Bayport liveryman. A gangling youth in the latter's employ was on the buggy seat andhe recognized the Foam Flake first and his driver next. 

"Why, good mornin', Cap'n, " hailed the youth. "You over here, too?"

Sears, performing the purely perfunctory task of hitching the Foam Flaketo a post, smiled grimly. 

"No, Josiah, " he replied. "I'm not here. I'm over in South Harniss allthis week. Where are you?"

"Eh?. .. Where be I?. .. Say, what----"

"Yes, yes, Josiah, all right. Just keep a weather eye on this post, willyou, like a good fellow?"

"On the post? On the horse, you mean?"

"No, I mean on the post. If you don't this--er--camel of mine will eatit. Thanks. Do as much for you some time, Josiah. "

He went into the building, leaving the bewildered Josiah in what mightbe described as a state of mind. 

"Is the commodore busy?" he asked of the boy at the desk. 

"Yes, he is, " replied the boy. "But he won't be very long, I don'tthink. "

"Humph! That's what you don't think, eh? Well, now just between us, whatdo you think?. .. Never mind, son, never mind, I'm satisfied if you are. I'll wait. By the way, somebody from my home port is in there with him, I judge. "

"Um--hm. Miss Berry, she's there. "

"Miss Berry! Elizabeth Berry?. .. Is she there now?"

The boy nodded. "Um-hm, " he declared, "she's there, but I guess they're'most done. I heard her chair scrape a minute or two ago, so I thinkshe's comin' right out. "

Kendrick rose from his own chair. "I'll wait outside, " he said, and wentout to the platform again. Josiah, evidently lonely and seekingconversation, hailed him at once. 

"Say, that old horse of yours _is_ a cribbler, ain't he, " he observed. "He's took one chaw out of that post already. "

Sears paid no attention. He walked around to the rear of the littlebuilding and, leaning against its shingled side, waited, gazing absentlyacross the fields to the spires and roofs of Orham village. 

He was sorry that Elizabeth was there just at this time. True they metalmost daily at the Fair Harbor office, but those meetings wereobligatory, this was not. And meeting her at all, relations between thembeing what they were, was very hard for him. Since George Kent'sdisclosure of his feelings and hopes those meetings were harder still. Each one made his task, that of helping the boy toward the realizationof those hopes, so much more difficult. He was ashamed of himself, butso it was. No, in his present frame of mind he did not want to meet her. He would wait there, out of sight, until she had gone. 

But he was not allowed to do so. He heard the office door open, heardher step--he would have recognized it, he believed, anyway--upon theplatform. He heard her speak to Josiah. And then that pest of an officeboy began shouting his name. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " yelled the boy. "Cap'n Kendrick, where are you?"

He did not answer, but the other imbecile, Josiah, answered for him. 

"There he is, out alongside the buildin', " volunteered Josiah. "Cap'nKendrick, they want ye. "

Then both began shrieking "Cap'n Kendrick" at the top of their voices. 

To pretend not to hear would have been too ridiculous. There was butthing to do and he did it. 

"Aye, aye, " he answered, impatiently. "I'm comin'!"

When he reached the platform Elizabeth was still there. She wassurprised to see him, evidently, but there was another expression on herface, an expression which he did not understand. He bowed gravely. 

"Good mornin', " he said. She returned his greeting, but still shecontinued to look at him with that odd expression. 

"Mr. Bradley's all ready for you, " announced the office boy, who washolding the door open. Sears' foot was at the 'threshold when Elizabethspoke his name. He turned to her in surprise. 

"Yes?" he replied. 

For an instant she was silent. Then, as if obeying an uncontrollableimpulse, she came toward him. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she said. "May I speak with you? In private? I won'tkeep you but a moment. "

"Why--why, yes, of course, " he stammered. He turned to the office boy. "Go and tell Mr. Bradley I'll be right there, " he commanded. The boywent. 

Elizabeth spoke to her charioteer, who was leaning forward on the buggyseat, his small eyes fixed upon the pair and his large mouth open. 

"Drive over to that corner, Josiah, " she said. "To that storethere--yes, that's it. And wait there for me. I'll come at once. "

Josiah reluctantly drove away. Elizabeth turned again to Kendrick. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she began. "I shan't keep you long. I realize thatyou must be surprised at my asking to speak with you--after everything. And, of course, I realize still more than you can't possibly wish tospeak with me. "

He attempted to say something, to protest, but she did not give him thechance. 

"No, don't, don't, " she said, hurriedly. "Don't pretend. I know how youfeel, of course. But I have been wanting to tell you this for a longtime. I hadn't the courage, or I was too much ashamed, or something. Andthis is a strange place to say it--and time. But when I saw you just nowI--I felt as if I must say it. I couldn't wait another minute. Cap'nKendrick, I want to beg your pardon. "

To add to his amazement and embarrassed distress he saw that she wasvery close to tears. 

"Why--why--" he stammered. 

"Don't say anything. There isn't anything for _you_ to say. I don't askyou to forgive me--you couldn't, of course. But I--I just had to tellyou that I am so ashamed of myself, of my misjudging you, and the thingsI said to you. I know that you were right and I was all wrong. "

"Why--why, here, hold on!" he broke in. "I don't understand. "

"Of course you don't. And I can't explain. Probably I never can and youmustn't ask me to. But--but--I had to say this. I had to beg your pardonand tell you how ashamed I am. .. . That's all. .. . Thank you. "

She turned and almost ran from the platform, down the steps and acrossthe street to the waiting buggy. Sears Kendrick stared after her, stareduntil that buggy disappeared around the bend in the road. Then hebreathed heavily, straightened his cap, slowly shook his head, andentered the lawyer's office. He was still in a sort of trance when hesat down in the chair in the inner room and heard Bradley bid him goodmorning. He returned the good morning, but he heard, or understood, verylittle of what the lawyer said immediately afterward. When he did beginvaguely to comprehend he found the latter was speaking of ElizabethBerry. 

"I wish I knew what her trouble is, " Bradley was saying. "She won't tellme, won't even admit that there is any trouble, but that doesn't needtelling. The last half dozen times I have seen her she has seemed andlooked worried and absent-minded. And this morning she drove way overhere to ask me some almost childish questions about her investments, themoney the judge left her. Wanted to know if it was safe, or somethinglike that. She didn't admit that was it, exactly, but that was as nearas I could get to what she was driving at. Do you know what's troublingher, Kendrick?"

Sears shook his head. "No-o, " he replied. "I've heard--but no, I don'tknow. She wanted to be sure her money was safe, you say?"

"Why, not safely invested, I don't think that was it. She seemed to wantto know what I'd done with the bonds themselves and the other securitiesof hers. I told her they were in the deposit vaults over at the Bayportbank; that is, some of them were there and some of them were in the bankat Harniss. Then she asked if any one could get them, anybody except sheor I. Of course I told her no, and not even I without an order from her. She seemed a little relieved, I thought, but when _I_ asked questionsshe shut up like a quahaug. But that seemed a silly errand to come awayover here on. Don't you think so, Cap'n? . .. Eh? What's the matter? Whatare you looking at me like that for?"

The captain _was_ looking at him, was looking with an expression ofintense and eager interest. He did not answer Bradley's question, butasked one, himself. 

"Did she ask anything more about--well, about her bonds?" he demanded. "Think now; I'll tell you why by and by. "

The lawyer considered. "No-o, " he said. "Nothing of importance, surely. She asked--she seemed to want to know particularly if it was possiblefor any one except the owner or a duly accredited representative to getat securities in the vaults of those banks. That seemed to be theinformation she was after. .. . Now what have you got up your sleeve?"

"Nothin'--nothin'. I guess. Or somethin', maybe; I don't know. Bradley, would you mind tellin' me this much: Of course I'm not Elizabeth'strustee any more, but would it be out of the way if you told me whetheror not you reinvested any of her twenty thousand in City of Bostonbonds? City of Boston 4-1/2s; say?"

Bradley did not answer for a moment. Then from a pigeon hole in his deskhe took a packet of papers and selected one. 

"Yes, " he said, gravely. "I put ten thousand of her money in those verybonds. My brokers up in Boston recommended them strongly as being a safeand good investment. .. . And now perhaps you'll tell us why you askedabout that?"

Sears' brows drew together. Here was his vague theory on the way, atleast, to confirmation. 

"You tell me somethin' more first, " he said. "'Tisn't likely you've gotthe numbers of those bonds on that piece of paper, is it?"

"Likely enough. I've got the numbers and the price I paid for 'em. Why?"

Kendrick took his memorandum book from his pocket. "Were two of thosenumbers A610, 312 and A610, 313?" he asked. 

Bradley consulted his slip of paper. "No, " he replied. "Nothing likeit. "

"Eh? You're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. Say, what sort of a trustee do you think I am?"

Sears did not answer. If the lawyer was sure, then his "theory, " insteadof being confirmed, was smashed flat. 

"Humph!" he grunted, after a moment. "Do you mind my lookin' at thatpaper of yours?"

Bradley pushed the slip across the desk. The captain looked at itcarefully. "Humph!" he said again. "You're right. And those are fivehundred dollar bonds, all of 'em. Well, that settles that. And now it'sall fog again. .. . Humph! In a way I'm glad--but---- Pshaw!"

"Yes. And _now_ maybe you'll tell me what you're after? Don't you thinkit's pretty nearly time?"

"Why, perhaps, but I'm afraid that's what I can't tell--you or anybodyelse. .. . Bradley, just one more thing. Do you happen to know whetherthere was any of those Boston bonds in Lobelia Phillips' estate? Thatis, did any of 'em come to her husband from her?"

The lawyer's answer was emphatic enough. 

"Yes, I do know, " he said. "There wasn't any. Those bonds are a brandnew issue. They have been put out since her death. "

Here was another gun spiked. Kendrick whistled. Bradley regarded himkeenly. 

"Cap'n, " he demanded, "are you on the trail of that Eg Phillips? Do youreally think you've got anything on him? Because if you have and youdon't let me into the game I'll never forgive you. Of all the slick, smooth, stuck-up nothings that---- Say, have you?"

Kendrick shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Squire, " he observed. "And, atany rate, I couldn't tell you, if I had. . .. Eh? And _now_ what?"

For the lawyer had suddenly struck the desk a blow with his hand. He wasfumbling in another pigeon-hole and extracting therefrom another packetof papers. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " he said, "I know where there are--or were, anyhow--more of those Boston 4-1/2s. "

"Eh? You do?"

"Yes. And they were thousand dollar bonds, too. .. . Yes, and. .. . Give methose numbers again. "

Sears gave them. Bradley grinned, triumphantly. 

"Here you are, " he exclaimed. "Five one thousand dollar City of Boston4-1/2s, bought at so and so much, on such and such a date, numberedA610, 309 to A610, 313 inclusive. Cap'n Sears, those bonds are--or were, the last I knew--in the vault of the Bayport National Bank. "

Kendrick rose to his feet. "You don't tell me!" he cried. "Who put 'emthere?"

"I put 'em there. And I bought 'em. But they don't belong to me. Therewas somebody else had money left to them, and I, on request, invested itfor the owner. Now you can guess, can't you?"

Cap'n Sears sat down heavily. "Cordelia?" he exclaimed. "Cordelia Berry, of course!. .. Bradley, what an everlastin' fool I was not to guess itin the first place! _There's_ the answer I've been hunting for. "

But, as he pondered over it during the long drive home he realized that, after all, it was not by any means a completely satisfying answer. Trueit confirmed his previous belief that the bonds which Phillips haddeposited with the New York brokers were not a part of the residue ofhis wife's estate. He had obtained them from Cordelia Berry. But thequestion as to how and why he had obtained them still remained. Did heget them by fraud? Did she lend them to him? If she lent them was it aloan without restrictions? Did she know what he meant to do with them;that is, was Cordelia a silent partner in Egbert's stock speculations?Or, and this was by no means impossible considering her infatuation, hadshe given them to him outright?

Unless there was an element of fraud or false pretense in thetransference of those bonds, the mere knowledge of whence they came wasnot likely to help in regaining George Kent's sixteen hundred dollars. For the matter of that, even if they had been obtained by fraud, if theywere not Phillips' property, but Cordelia's, still the return of Kent'smoney might be just as impossible provided Phillips had nothing of hisown to levy upon. He--Kendrick--might compel the brokers to return Mrs. Berry's City of Boston 4-1/2s to their rightful owner, but how wouldthat help Kent?

Well, never mind that now. If the worst came to the worst he could stillborrow the eight hundred which would save George from public disgrace. And the fact remained that his campaign against the redoubtable Egberthad made, for the first time, a forward movement, however slight. 

His thoughts turned to Elizabeth. The causes of her worry and troublewere plain enough now. Esther Tidditt had declared that she and Phillipswere by no means as friendly as they had been. Of course not. She, too, had been forced to realize what almost every one else had seen before, the influence which the fellow had obtained over her mother. Her visitto Bradley and her questions concerning the safety of securities in thebank's vaults were almost proof positive that she knew Egbert had thosebonds and perhaps feared he might get the others. He should not get themif Sears Kendrick could help it. She had asked his pardon, she hadconfessed that he was right and that she had been wrong. She believed inhim again. Well, in return he would fight his battle--and hers--andGeorge's--harder than ever. The fight had been worth while of itself, now it was more than ever a fight for her happiness. And Egbert--by theliving jingo, Egbert was in for a licking. 

So, to the mild astonishment of the placid Foam Flake, who had beenmeandering on in a sort of walking doze, Captain Kendrick tugged brisklyat the reins and broke out in song, the hymn which Judah Cahoon had sunga few nights before:

 "Light in the darkness, sailor, Day is at hand. "

Judah himself was singing when his lodger entered the kitchen, but hiswas no joyful ditty. It was a dirge, which he was intoning as he bentover the cookstove. A slow and solemn and mournful wail dealing withdeath and burial of one "Old Storm Along, " whoever he may have been. 

 "'Old Storm Along is dead and gone To my way, oh, Storm Along. Old Storm Along is dead and gone Ay--ay--ay, Mister Storm A-long. 

 "'When Stormy died I dug his grave To my way, oh, Storm Along, I dug his grave with a silver spade. Ay--ay--ay, Mister Storm A-long. 

 "'I hove him up with an iron crane, To my way, oh, Storm Along, And lowered him down with----'"

Kendrick broke in upon the flow of misery. 

"Sshh! All hands to the pumps!" he shouted. "Heavens, what a wail!Sounds like the groans of the dyin'. Didn't your breakfast set well, Judah?"

Judah turned, looked at him, and grinned sheepishly. "'Tis kind of alonesome song, ain't it?" he admitted. "Still we used to sing itconsider'ble aboard ship. Don't you know we did, Cap'n?"

The captain grunted. "Maybe so, " he observed, "but it's one of thethings that would keep the average man from going to sea. What's thenews since I've been gone--anything?"

Judah nodded. "Um-hm, " he said. "I cal'late 'twas the news that set megoin' about old Storm Along. Esther Tidditt's been over here half theforenoon, seemed so, tellin' about Elviry Snowden's aunt over toOstable. She's dead, the old woman is, and she died slow and agonizin', 'cordin' to Esther. Elviry was all struck of a heap about it. And nowshe's gone. "

"Gone! Elvira? Dead, you mean?"

"Hey? No, no! The aunt's dead, but Elviry ain't. She's gone over toOstable to stay till after the funeral. She's about the only relation tothe remains there is left, so Esther tells me. There was a reg'lar youngtyphoon over to the Harbor when the news struck. 'Twas too late for theup train so they had to hire a horse and team and then somebody had tobe got to pilot it, 'cause Elviry wouldn't no more undertake to drive ahorse than I would to eat one. And the trouble was that the liverystable boy--that Josiah Ellis--was off drivin' somebody elsesomewheres. "

"Yes, I saw him. "

"Hey? You did? Where? Who was he drivin'?"

"Never mind that. Heave ahead with your yarn. "

"Well, the next thing they done was to come cruisin' over here to see if_I_ wouldn't take the job. Hoppin', creepin', jumpin' Henry! I shut downon _that_ notion almost afore they got their hatches open to tell meabout it. Suppose likely I'd set in a buggy alongside of Elviry Snowdenand listen to her clack from here to Ostable? Not by a two-gallonjugful! Creepin'! She'd have another corpse on her hands time we gotthere. So I said I was sick. "

"Sick! Ha, ha! You're a healthy lookin' sick man, Judah. "

"Um-hm. Mine must be one of them kind of diseases that don't show on theoutside. But I was sick then, all right--at the very notion. And, Cap'nSears, who do you cal'late finally did invite himself to drive thatSnowden woman to Ostable? You'll never guess in _this_ world. "

"Well, I don't intend to wait until the next world to find out; soyou'll have to tell me, Judah. Who was it?"

"Old Henfruit. "

"_Who?_"

"Old Henfruit, that's what I call him. That Eg thing"

"What? Phillips?"

"Yus. That's the feller. "

"But why should he do it?"

"Oh, just to show off how polite and obligin' he is, I presume likely. Elviry she was snifflin' around and swabbin' her deadlights with herhandkercher and heavin' overboard lamentations about her poor dear AuntSo-and-so layin' all alone over there and she couldn't get to her--as if'twould make any difference to a dead person whether she got to 'em ornot, and anyhow I'd _want_ to be dead afore Elviry Snowden got tome--and---- Oh, yes, well, pretty soon here comes Eg, beaver hat andmustache and all, purrin' and wantin' to know what was the matter. And, of course all hands of 'em started to tell him, 'specially that AuroraChase, who is so everlastin' deaf she hadn't heard the yarn more'n halfstraight and wan't sure yet whether 'twas a funeral or a fire. Andso----"

"There, there, Judah! Get back on the course. So Egbert drove Elviraover to Ostable, did he?"

"Sartin sure. When Elviry saw him she kind of flew at him same as achicken flies to the old hen. And he kind of spread out his wings, asyou might say, and comforted her and, next thing you know, he'd offeredto be pilot and she and him had started on the trip. So that's thenews. .. . Esther said 'twas good as a town hall to see Cordelia Berrywhen them two went away together. You see, Cordelia is so dreadful goneon that Eg man that she can't bear to see another female within hailin'distance of him. Been just the same if 'twas old Northern Lights Chasehe'd gone with. Haw, haw!"

The Fair Harbor was still buzzing with the news of Miss Snowden'sbereavement when Kendrick visited there next day. The funeral was totake place the day after that and Mrs. Brackett was going and so wasAurora. As Miss Peasley and some of the others would have liked to go, but could not afford the railway fare, there was some jealousy manifestand a few ill-natured remarks made in the captain's hearing. Elvira, itseemed, had sent for her trunk, as she was to remain in Ostable for aweek or two at least. 

The captain and Elizabeth had their customary conference in the officeconcerning the Harbor's bills and finances. Kendrick's greeting was atrifle embarrassed--recollection of the interview at Orham was fresh inhis mind. Elizabeth colored slightly when they met, but she did notmention that interview and, although pleasant and kind, kept theconversation strictly confined to business matters. 

That afternoon Sears encountered Egbert for the first time in a week orso. The captain was on his way to the barn at the rear of the Harborgrounds. He was about to turn the bend in the path, the bend which hehad rounded on the day of his first excursion in those grounds, andwhich had afforded him the vision of Miss Snowden and Mrs. Chase framedin the ivy-draped window of The Eyrie. As he passed the clump of lilacs, now bare and scrawny, he came suddenly upon Phillips. The latter wasstanding there, deep in conversation with Mrs. Berry. Theirs should, itwould seem, have been a pleasant conversation, but neither looked happy;in fact, Cordelia looked as if she had been crying. 

Sears raised his cap and Egbert lifted the tall hat with the flourishall his own. Cordelia did not bow nor even nod. Kendrick, as he walkedon toward the barn, was inclined to believe he could guess the cause ofMrs. Berry's distress and her companion's annoyance; he believed thatCity of Boston 4-1/2s might be the subject of their talk. If so, thenperhaps those bonds had come into the gentleman's possession in a mannernot strictly within the law. Or, at all events, the lady might not knowwhat had become of them and be requesting their return. He certainlyhoped that such was the case. It was the one thing he yearned to findout before making the next strategic advance in his and Egbert's privatewar. 

But a note from Bradley which he received next day helped him not atall. It was a distinct disappointment. Bradley had, at his request, madesome inquiries at the Bayport bank. The lawyer was a director in thatinstitution and he could obtain information without arousing unduecuriosity or answering troublesome questions. The two one thousanddollar bonds had been removed from the vaults by Cordelia Berry herself. She had come alone, and on two occasions, taking one bond at each visit. She did not state why she wanted them and the bank authorities had notconsidered it their business to ask. 

So that avenue of hope was closed. Egbert had not taken the bonds, andhow they came into his possession was still as great a puzzle as ever. And the time--the time was growing so short. On Wednesday Kent hadpromised to send his brother-in-law eight hundred dollars. It wasSaturday when Bradley's letter came. Each evening George stopped at theMinot place to ask what progress had been made. The young man'snervousness was contagious; the captain's own nerves became affected. 

"George, " he ordered, at last, "don't ask me another question. Ipromised you once, and now I promise you again, that by Wednesday nightyou shall have enough cash in hand to satisfy your sister and herhusband. Don't you come nigh me until then. "

On Monday, the situation remaining unchanged, Sears determined upon adesperate move. He would see Egbert alone and have a talk with him. Hehad, after careful consideration, decided what his share in that talkwas to be. It must be two-thirds "bluff. " He knew very little, but heintended to pretend to much greater knowledge. He might trap hisadversary into a damaging admission. He might gain something and hecould lose almost nothing. The attack was risky, a sort of forlornhope--but he would take the risk. 

That afternoon he drove down to the Macomber house. There he wasconfronted with another disappointment. Egbert was not there. Sarah saidhe had been away almost all day and would not be back until late in theevening. 

"He's been away consider'ble the last two or three days, " she said. "No, I'm sure I don't know where he's gone. He told Joel somethin' aboutbein' out of town on business. Joel sort of gathered 'twas in Trumetwhere the business was, but he never told either of us really. He wasn'there for dinner yesterday or supper either, and not for supper the daybefore that. "

"Humph! Will he be here to-morrow, think?"

"I don't know, but I should think likely he would, in the forenoon, anyhow. He's almost always here in the forenoon; he doesn't get up veryearly, hardly ever. "

"Oh, he doesn't. How about his breakfast?"

Mrs. Macomber looked a bit guilty. 

"Well, " she admitted, "I usually keep his breakfast hot for him, and--and he has it in his room. "

"You take it in to him, I suppose?"

"We-ll, he's always been used to breakfastin' that way, he says. It'sthe way they do over abroad, accordin' to his tell. "

"Oh, Sarah, Sarah!" mused her brother. "To think _you_ could slip soeasy on that sort of soft-soap. Tut, tut! I'm surprised. .. . Well, good-by. Oh, by the way, how about his majesty's board bill? Paid up todate, is it?"

His sister looked even more embarrassed, and, for her, a trifleirritated. 

"He owes me for three weeks, if you must know, " she said, "but he'll payit, same as he always does. "

"Look out, look out! Can't be too sure. .. . There, there, Sarah, don't becross. I won't torment you. "

He laughed and Mrs. Macomber, after a moment, laughed too. 

"You are a tease, Sears, " she declared, "and always was. Shall I tellMr. Phillips you came to see him?"

"Eh? No, indeed you shan't. Don't you mention my name to him. He lovesme so much that he might cry all night at the thought of not bein' athome when I called. Don't tell him a word. I'll try again. "

The next forenoon he did try again. Judah had some trucking to do in thewestern part of the village and the captain rode with him on the seat ofthe truck wagon as far as the store. From there he intended to walk tohis sister's, for walking, even as long a distance as a mile, was nolonger an impossibility. As he alighted by the store platform CaptainElkanah Wingate came out of the Bassett emporium. 

"Mornin', Kendrick, " he hailed. 

Sears did not share Bayport's awe of the prosperous Elkanah. He returnedthe greeting as casually as if the latter had been an everyday citizen. 

"Been spendin' your money on Eliphalet's bargains?" he inquired. 

The great man did not resent the flippancy. He seemed to be in aparticularly pleasant humor. 

"Got a little extra to spend to-day, " he declared, with a chuckle. "Picked up twenty dollars this mornin' that I never expected to seeagain. "

"So? You're lucky. "

"That's what I thought. Say, Kendrick, have you had any--hum--businessdealings with that man Phillips? No, " with another chuckle, "I supposeyou haven't. He doesn't love you over and above, I understand. My wifeand the rest of the women folks seem to think he's first mate to SaintPeter, but, between ourselves, he's always been a little too much of awalkin' oil barrel to suit me. He borrowed twenty of me a good while agoand I'd about decided to write it down as a dead loss. But an hour or soago he ran afoul of me and, without my saying a word, paid up like aman, every cent. Had a roll of bills as thick as a skys'l yard, he did. Must have had a lucky voyage, I guess. Eh? Ha, ha!"

He moved off, still chuckling. Kendrick walked down the lower roadpondering on what he had heard. Egbert, the professed pauper, inpossession of money and voluntarily paying his debts. What might thatmean?

Sarah met him at the door. She seemed distressed. 

"There!" she cried, as he approached. "If this isn't too bad! And I wasafraid of it, too. You've walked way down here, Sears, on those poorlegs of yours, and Mr. Phillips has gone again. And I don't think he'llbe back before night, if he is then. He said not to worry if he wasn't, because he might have to go to Trumet. Isn't it a shame?"

It was a shame and a rather desperate shame. This was Tuesday. If theinterview with Egbert was to take place at all, it should be that day, or the next. He looked at his sister's face and something in herexpression caused him to ask a question. 

"What is it, Sarah?" he demanded. "What's the rest of it?"

She hesitated. "Sears, " she said, after looking over her shoulder tomake sure none of the children was within hearing, "there's somethin'else. I--I don't know, but--but I'm almost _sure_ Mr. Phillips won't beback to-night. I think he's gone to stay. "

"Stay? What do you mean? Did he take his dunnage--his things--with him?"

"No. His trunk is in his room. And he didn't have a satchel or a valisein his hand. But, Sears, I can't understand it--they're gone--hisvalises are gone. "

"Gone! Gone where?"

"I don't know. That's the funny part of it. He's always kept two valisesin his room, a big one and a little one. I went into his room just nowto make the beds and clean up and I didn't see those valises anywhere. Ithought that was funny and then I noticed that the things on his bureau, his brushes and comb and things, weren't there. Then I looked in hisbureau drawers and everything was gone, the drawers were empty. .. . Sears, what _do_ you suppose it means?"

Her brother did not answer at once. He tugged at his beard and frowned. Then he asked:

"Didn't he say a word more than you've told me? Or do anything?"

"No. He had his breakfast out here with us this mornin'. Then he wentback to his room and, about nine or so, he came out to me and paid hisboard bill---- Oh, I told you he'd pay it, Sears; he always doespay--and then----"

"Here! Heave to! Hold on, Sarah! He paid his bill, all of it?"

"Yes. Right up to now. That was kind of funny, bein' the middle of theweek instead of the end, but he said we might as well start with a cleanledger, or somethin' nice and pleasant like that. Then he took a bundleof money from his pocketbook--a great, _big_ bundle it was, and--Why, why, Sears, what is it? Where are you goin'?"

The captain had pushed by her and was on his way to the front of thehouse. 

"Goin'?" he repeated. "I'm goin' to have a look at those rooms of his. You'd better come with me, Sarah. "

CHAPTER XVIII

The keeper of the livery stable was surprised. "Why, yes, " he said, "Mr. Phillips was here a spell ago. He said he was cal'latin' to go to Trumetto-day on a business cruise, and he hired Josiah and the bay horse andbuggy to get him over there. They left about ten o'clock, I should say'twas. I had a mind to ask him why he didn't take the train, but then Ithought 'twould be poor business for a fellow that let teams, so I keptstill. Hey? Ho, ho!"

The captain, somewhat out of breath after his hurried walk from theMacomber home to the stable, pondered a moment "Did he have a valise orsatchel or anything with him?" he asked. 

"No. Nothin' but his cane. Couldn't navigate a yard without his canethat feller couldn't, seemed so. Looked kind of spruced up, too. Dressedin his best bib and tucker, he was, beaver hat and all. Cal'late he mustbe goin' to see his best girl, eh. Ho, ho! Guess not though; from what Ihear his best girl's down to the Fair Harbor. "

Kendrick pondered a moment longer. 

"Did he pay for the team?" he inquired. 

"Hey? Yus, paid in advance, spot cash. But what you askin' all this for, Cap'n? Wanted to see him afore he went, did you?"

Sears nodded. "Just a business matter, " he explained, and walked away. He did not walk far, only to the corner. There on the low stone wallbordering on the east the property of Captain Orrin Eldridge, he seatedhimself to rest and cogitate. 

His cogitations were most unsatisfactory. They got him nowhere. He andhis sister had pretty thoroughly inspected Egbert's quarters at theMacomber house. The Phillips trunk was still there, and the "horsepictures" and the photographs of Lobelia's charming lady friends! butthere was precious little else. Toilet articles, collars, ties and moreintimate articles of wearing apparel were missing and, except for alight coat and a summer suit of clothes, the closets were empty. And, asSarah had said, the two valises had vanished. Egbert had told hislandlady he was going to Trumet; he had told the livery man the samething. But by far the easiest way to reach Trumet was by train. Why hadhe chosen to be driven there over a long and very bad road? And _what_had become of the valises?

And then occurred the second of a series of incidents which had a markedand helpful bearing up Captain Kendrick's actions that day. He saidafterwards that, for the first time since his railway accident, hereally began to believe the tide of luck was turning in his direction. The first of those incidents had been his meeting and talk with CaptainElkanah. That had sent him hurrying to the Macombers' earlier than heintended. The second incident was that now, as he sat there on theEldridge wall, down the road came the Minot truck wagon with the FoamFlake in the shafts and Judah Cahoon swinging and jolting on the seat. 

Judah spied him and hailed. 

"Ahoy, there, Cap'n Sears!" he shouted, pulling the old horse to astandstill. "Thought you was down to Sary's long ago. What you doin' onthat wall--gone to roost so early in the day?"

The captain smiled. "Not exactly, Judah, " he replied. "But what are youdoin' 'way back here? I thought you were haulin' Seth Bangs's wood forhim. "

"Huh!" in disgust; "I thought I was, too, but there was some kind ofmix-up in the time. Cal'late 'twas that Hannah Bangs that muddledit--she could muddle a cake of ice, that woman. Kind of born with aknack for makin' mistakes, she is; and she's the biggest mistakeherself, 'cordin' to my notion. Seems 'twas to-morrow, not to-day, Sethexpected me to come. "

"Humph! So you had your cruise up there for nothin'?"

"Yus. Creepin', jumpin'! Think of it, Cap'n. I navigated thisold--er--er--spavin-rack 'way up to where them folks live, three mile onthe Denboro road 'tis, and then had to come about and beat for homeagain. I . .. Oh, say I sighted a chum of ours up along that way. Who doyou cal'late 'twas, Cap'n Sears? Old Eg, that's who. Togged out fromtruck to keelson as usual, beaver and all, and----"

"Here! Hold up! What's that, Judah? You saw Phillips up on the Denbororoad, you say? What was he doin' there? When did you see him?"

"'Bout an hour ago, or such matter. He was aboard one of the liverystable teams and that Josiah Ellis was pilotin' him. I sung out toJosiah, but he never answered. Says I----"

"Sshh! Where were they bound; do you know?"

"Denboro, I presume likely. That's the only place there is to be boundto, on that road; 'less you're goin' perchin' up to Seabury's Pond, andfolks don't do much perchin' in December. Not with beaver hats on, anyhow. Haw, haw! Eg and Josiah was all jammed up together on the buggyseat, with two big valises crammed in alongside of 'em, and . .. Hi!What's the matter, Cap'n Sears? What's your hurry?"

The captain did not answer. He _was_ hurrying--hurrying back to thelivery stable. Half an hour later he, too, was on the seat of a hiredbuggy, driving the best horse the stable afforded up the lonely roadleading to Denboro. 

He met no one on that road--which winds and twists over the hills andthrough the wooded hollows from one side of the Cape to the other--untilhe was within a mile of Denboro village. Then he saw another horse andbuggy approaching his. He recognized the occupant of that buggy longbefore he himself was recognized. 

"Hi!" he shouted, as the two vehicles came near each other. "Hi! Josiah!Josiah Ellis!"

Josiah, serenely dozing, his feet propped against the dash and his capover his eyes, came slowly to life. 

"Hey?" he murmured, drowsily. "Yes; here I be. .. . Eh! What's the matter?Why, hello, Cap'n Kendrick, that you?"

"Whoa!" ordered the captain, addressing his own horse, who came to astandstill beside that driven by the other. "Stop, Josiah! Come up intothe wind a minute, I want to speak to you. What have you done withPhillips?"

Josiah was surprised. "Why, how did you know I had Mr. Phillips aboard?"he asked. "Oh, I presume likely they told you at the stable. But how didyou know he was goin' to Denboro? _I_ never knew it till after westarted. When we left port I supposed 'twas Trumet we was bound for, butwe hadn't much more'n got under way when Mr. Phillips says he's changedhis mind and wants to come over here. Didn't make no difference to _me_, of course. I get my wages, Saturday nights, just the same whether----"

"Where is Phillips now?"

"I was tellin' you. So we came about and headed for Denboro. Next thingwe had to haul up abreast of that old tumbledown shed at the end ofTabby Crosby's lot there by the meetin'-house while Mr. Phillips hoppedout and got a couple of great big satchels he'd left there. Big astrunks they was, pretty nigh, and time he got them stowed in here therewan't no room for knees nor feet nor nawthin' else seurcely. But, finally----"

"Hold on! Why did he have his dunnage in Tabitha Crosby's shed?"

"That's what _I_ couldn't make out. He said he left 'em there so's notto have to go out of our way to get 'em at Joe Macomber's. But it'sabout as nigh to Joe's as 'tis to Tabby's, seems to me. Seemed funnyenough, that did, but 'twan't no funnier than comin' way over to theDenboro depot to take the same train he might have took just as well atBayport. _I_ couldn't make it out. Can you, Cap'n Kendrick?"

"Did you leave him at the Denboro depot?"

"Yus. 'Bout an hour ago, or such matter. And the up train ain't due tillfour, and it's only half-past twelve now. I stopped at the Denboro Houseto get some diner. A feller has to eat once in a while, even if he ain'trich. And talk about chargin' high prices! All I had was some chowderand a piece of pie and tea, and I swan if they didn't stick methirty-five cents! Yes, sir, thirty-five cents! And the pie wasdried-apple at that. Don't talk to me no more about that Denboro House!If I ever----"

Kendrick heard no more. He was on his way to the railway station atDenboro. The mystery of the valises was, in one way, explained; inanother it was more mysterious than ever. Evidently Phillips must havetaken them from his rooms either early that morning or during thenight--probably the latter--and hidden them in the Crosby shed. But why?

Denboro was a sleepy little village and at that hour on that rawDecember day the railway station was as sleepy as the rest of it. Thestation agent, who was also the telegraph operator, was locking his doorpreparatory to going home for dinner. He and the captain were oldacquaintances. In days gone by he had sailed as second mate aboard abark which Kendrick commanded. Now, retired from the sea, he was depotmaster and pound-keeper and constable in his native town. And, like mostof Sears' shipmates, he was glad to see his former skipper. 

They shook hands, exchanged observations concerning the weather, andthen the depot master asked what he could do for his friend. 

"I'm lookin' for a man named Phillips, " explained Kendrick. "JosiahEllis--fellow that drives for the livery stable over home--told me heleft him here at your depot, Jim. About an hour ago, Josiah said it was. He doesn't seem to be here now; do you know where he's gone?"

Jim rubbed his chin. "Tall feller, thin, long mustache, beaver hat, talks important and patronizin' like a combination of Admiral Farragutand the Angel Gabriel?" he inquired. 

"That's the man. "

"He was here. Left them two valises yonder in my care. He's comin' backin time to take the three-fifteen. "

"Three-fifteen? I thought the up train left here at half-past four orsomethin' like that. "

"The reg'lar train does. But there's a kind of combination, three orfour freight and one passenger car, that comes up from Hyannis and goeson ahead of the other. It don't go only to Middleboro. He said he wascal'latin' to take that. I had a notion he was goin' to change atMiddleboro and go somewheres else from there. "

"I see. Yes, yes. And you don't know where he is now?"

"Well, he asked where was the best place to eat and I told him some wentto the hotel and some to Amanda Warren's boardin'-house. 'Most of 'emonly go to the hotel once, though, ' says I. I guess likely you'll findhim at Amanda's. "

So to Mrs. Warren's boarding-house the captain drove. The lady herselfopened the door for him. Yes, the gentleman described had been there. Yes, he had eaten dinner and gone. 

"Do you know where he has gone?" asked Kendrick. 

Mrs. Warren nodded. "He asked me where Mr. Backus, the Methodistminister, lived, " she said. "He was real particular to find out how toget there, so I guess that's where he was bound. "

The Methodist minister! Why on earth Egbert Phillips should go to thehome of a minister was another mystery beyond Sears Kendrick's power ofsurmise. However, he too inquired the way to the Backus domicile andonce more took up the chase. 

The Methodist parsonage was a neat little white house, green-shuttered, and with a white picket fence inclosing its little front yard. It beingthe home of a clergyman, Sears ventured to knock at the front door;otherwise he would, of course, have gone around to the side entrance. 

A white-haired little woman answered the knock. No, Mr. Backus was out, but he was expected back very soon. He had an appointment at two, so shewas sure he would be in by that time. Would the captain come in andwait? There was another gentleman now in the parlor waiting. Yes, a tallgentleman with a mustache. 

At last! Another minute, and Captain Kendrick, entering the Backusparlor, came face to face with the elusive object of his search, Mr. Egbert Phillips. 

Egbert was sitting in a rocking chair by the marble-topped center table. A plush-covered photograph album was on that table and he was languidlyturning its pages and inspecting, with a smile of tolerant amusement, the likenesses of the Backus friends and relatives. As the door openedhe turned, his smile changing to one of greeting. 

"Ah, Mr. Backus----" he began. And then he stopped. It was the captainwho smiled now. His smile was as genial as a summer morn. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Phillips, " he said. "How are you, sir?"

He stepped forward with extended hand. Still Egbert stood and stared. The photograph album, imperfectly balanced on the edge of the table, slipped to the floor. 

The clergyman's wife seemed a trifle puzzled and perturbed by thePhillips expression and attitude. 

"This gentleman said----" she began. "He said you and he----"

Kendrick helped her to finish: "I told the lady, " he put in cheerfully, "that I had come 'way over from Bayport to see you about a littlematter. I said we knew each other pretty well and I was sure you'd beglad to see me, even if I was kind of unexpected. .. . Excuse me, butyou've dropped your picture book. "

He stooped, picked up the album and replaced it on the table. Thisaction occupied but a moment of time, nevertheless in that moment aportion at least of Egbert's poise returned. His smile might have beena bit uncertain, but it was a smile. And when Sears again extended hishand his own came to meet it. 

"Of course, of course, " he said. "Yes--ah--yes, indeed. How do you do, Kendrick?"

The captain beamed. "Oh, I'm feelin' tip-top, " he declared. "The sightof you is enough to make me well, even if I was sick--which I'm not. Nowif you and I might have a little talk?"

Mrs. Backus was anxious to oblige. 

"You make yourselves right at home in here, " she said. "If my husbandcomes I'll tell him to wait until you're through. Take all the time youwant. "

She was at the threshold, but Phillips detained her. 

"Pardon me, " he said, hastily, "but we mustn't abuse your hospitality tothat extent. This--ah--gentleman and I can talk just as well out ofdoors. Really, I----"

"Oh, no! You must stay right here. Please do. It isn't the leasttrouble. "

She went and the door closed behind her. Egbert glanced at the clock onthe mantel and frowned. Captain Kendrick continued to smile. 

"And here we are at last, " he observed. "Quiet and sociable as youplease. Sit down, Mr. Phillips, sit down. "

But Egbert did not sit. He glanced at the clock once more and then athis watch. 

"Sit down, " repeated the captain. "I've been cruisin' so much thisforenoon that I'm glad of the chance to sit. From what I've been able tolearn you've been movin' pretty lively, too. A little rest won't doeither of us any harm. Sit down, Mr. Phillips. Take the rocker. "

Phillips walked to the front window, looked out, hesitated, and then, returning, did take the rocker. He looked at his fellow-townsman. 

"Well?" he asked. 

Kendrick nodded. "Yes, " he agreed, "it is well, real well, now that I'vecaught up with you. I'll say this for you, you're as good a craft forleavin' a crooked wake as any I ever chased. For a while there you hadme hull down. But I'm here now--and so are you. "

Egbert's slim hand slowly stroked his mustache. 

"There appears to be some truth in that remark, " he declared. "We doseem to be here--yes. .. . But----"

"But you are wonderin' why _I_ am here? Well, to be honest, I came tofind you. I judged that you were thinkin' of leavin' us--for a spell, anyhow--and before you went I wanted to talk with you, that's all. "

A pause, and more mustache stroking. The two men regarded each other;the captain blandly beaming, Phillips evidently pondering. 

"I don't know, " he said, at last, "what you may mean by my thinking ofleaving you. However, that is not material, and I am always delighted tosee you, of course. But as I am rather busy this afternoon perhapsyou'll be good enough to come to the point. .. . If there is a point. "

"Yes, there is. Oh, yes, there's a point. Two or three points. "

"Indeed! How interesting. And what are they? Please be as--ah--brief asyou can. "

Sears crossed his legs. All this had been but preliminary maneuvering. Here now was the real beginning of the fight; and he realized only tookeenly that his side in that fight was tremendously short of ammunition. But he did not mean that his adversary should guess that fact, and withthe smiling serenity of absolute confidence he fired the opening gun. 

"Egbert, " he began--"you don't mind my callin' you Egbert? Knowin' youas well as I do, it seems foolish to stand on ceremony, don't you think?You don't mind?"

"Not at all. Charmed, I'm sure. .. . Well?"

"Well--yes. We've got a good many mutual friends--you and I, Egbert. Oneof 'em is named George Kent. He's a great friend of both of us. Niceboy, too. "

At the mention of the name the Phillips hand, caressing the Phillipsmustache, paused momentarily. But it resumed operations almost at once. Other than this there was no sign of perturbation on its owner's part. He slowly shook his head. 

"My _dear_ Captain Kendrick----" he drawled. 

"Oh, call me Sears. _Don't_ be formal. "

"My dear man, if it is possible for you to come to the point? Withouttoo great a strain on your--ah--intellect?"

"I'm comin', Egbert. Right abreast there now. George--our mutualfriend--is in trouble. He has used some money that he can't spare, usedit in a stock deal. I won't go into the particulars because you know 'emjust as well as I do. You got him into the trouble in the first place, Iunderstand. Now, to a man up a tree, as the boys say, it would seem asif you ought to be the one to get him out. Particularly as you are hisvery best friend. Don't you think so?"

Egbert sighed before answering, a sigh of utter weariness. 

"And may I ask if _this_ is the--ah--point?" he inquired. 

"Why, yes--I guess so. In a way. "

"And you are acting as our young friend's representative? He has seenfit to take you into his confidence concerning a matter which wassupposed to be a business secret between--ah--gentlemen?"

"I could see he was in trouble and I offered to do what I could to help. Then he told me the whole thing. "

"Indeed? A changeable youth. When I last heard him mention your name itwas not--pardon me--in a--shall we say strictly affectionate tone?"

"That so? Too bad. But we are all liable to be mistaken in ourjudgments. Men--and women, too. "

Again there was a slight pause; Egbert was regarding the speakerintently. The latter's countenance was about as expressive as that of awooden idol, a good-natured one. Mr. Phillips glanced once more at theclock, languidly closed his eyes, opened them, sighed for the thirdtime, and then spoke. 

"So I am to understand that our--ah--juvenile acquaintance has turnedhis business affairs over to you, " he said. "I congratulate him, I'msure. The marked success which you have attained in the--ah--managementof--ah--other business affairs has inspired him with perfect trust, doubtless. "

"That must be it. The average man has to trust somebody and I gatheredthat _some_ trusts of his were beginnin' to slip their moorin's. However, here's the situation. You got him to buy some stock on margin. The stock, instead of goin' up, as you prophesied, went down. Yousuggested his puttin' up more margin. He'd used all his own money, so heused some belonging to some one else. Now he's in trouble, bad trouble. What are you goin' to do about it?"

"I? My dear man, what should I do about it? What can I do? I haveexplained my situation to him. I am, owing to circumstances andthe--ah--machinations of certain individuals--both circumstances andindividuals of your acquaintance, I believe--in a most unfortunateposition financially. I have no money, or very little. Our--your youngprotege wished to risk some of his money in a certain speculation. I didthe same. The speculation was considered good at the time. I stillconsider it good, although profit may be deferred. He took the risk withhis eyes open. He is of age. He is not a child, although--pardonme--this new action of his might lead one to think him such. I am sorryfor him, but I do not consider myself at all responsible. "

"I see. But he has used money which wasn't his to speculate with. "

"I am sorry, deeply sorry. But--is that my fault?

"Well, that might be a question, mightn't it? You knew he was usin' thatmoney?"

"Pardon me--pardon me, Kendrick; but is that--ah--strictly true?"

"Well, he says it is. However, the question is just this: Will you helphim out by buyin' up his share in this C. M. Deal? Pay him back hissixteen hundred and take the whole thing over yourself?"

Mr. Phillips for the first time permitted himself the luxury of a realsmile. 

"My _dear_ man, " he observed, "you're not seriously offering such aproposition as that, are you? You must be joking. "

"It's no joke to poor George. And he's only a boy, after all. Youwouldn't want him to go to jail. "

The smile disappeared. "I should be pained, " protested Egbert, andproved it by looking pained. "It would grieve me deeply. But I can'tthink such a contingency possible. No, no; not possible. And in time--mybrokers assure me a very short time--the stock will advance. "

"And you won't take over his share and get all that profit yourself?"

"I can't. It is impossible. I am so sorry. In former days--" with agesture of resignation--"it would have been quite possible. Then Ishould have been delighted. But now. .. . However, you must, as a man ofthe world, see that all this is quite absurd. And it is painful to me, as a friend--still a friend of young Kent's. Pardon me again, but I ambusy this afternoon and----"

He rose. Sears did not rise. He remained seated. 

"Jail's a mean place, " he remarked, with apparent irrelevance. "I'd hateto go there myself. So would you, I'll bet. "

Another pause on Phillips' part. Then another wearied smile. 

"Do you--ah--foresee any likelihood of either of us arriving at thatdestination?" he inquired. 

"Well, _I'm_ hopin' to stay out, for a spell anyway. Mr. Phillips--Egbert--yes, yes, Egbert, of course; we're gettin' betteracquainted all the time, so we just mustn't stand on ceremony. Egbert, how about those City of Boston 4-1/2s you put up as security over therein New York? What are you goin' to do about _them_?"

Egbert had strolled to the window and was looking out. He continued tolook out. The captain, his gaze fixed upon the beautifully draped, eventhough the least bit shiny, shoulders of the Phillips' coat, watchedeagerly for some shiver, some sign of agitation, however slight. Butthere was none. The sole indication that the shot just fired had hadany effect was the length of time Egbert took before turning. When hedid turn he was still blandly smiling. He walked back to the rocker andsettled himself upon its patchwork cushion. 

"Yes?" he queried. "You were saying----"

"I was speakin' of those two one thousand dollar City of Boston bondsyou sent your brokers, you know. Would you mind tellin' me how you gotthose bonds?"

Mr Phillips lifted one slim leg over the other. He lifted two slim handsand placed their finger tips together. 

"Kendrick, " he asked, "you will pardon me for speaking plainly? Thankyou so much. I have already listened to you for some time--more timethan I should have spared. For some reason you have--ah--seen fitto--shall we say pursue me here. Having found me, you make amost--pardon me again--unreasonable and childish demand on the part ofyoung Kent. I cannot grant it. Now is there any use wasting more time byasking--pardon me once more--impertinent questions concerning myaffairs? You can scarcely--well, even you, my dear Kendrick, can hardlyexpect me to answer them. Don't you think this--ah--extremely pleasantinterview had better end pleasantly--by ending now?"

He would have risen once more, but Sears motioned him to remain in therocker. The captain leaned forward. 

"Egbert, " he said briskly, "I'm busy, too; but I have spent a good manyhours and some dollars to get at you and I shan't leave you until I getat least a part of what I came after. Those Boston bonds----"

"Are my property, sir. "

"Well, I don't know. The last anybody heard they were the property ofMrs. Cordelia Berry. Now you say they're yours. That's one of thematters to be settled before you and I part company, Egbert. "

Mr. Phillips' aristocratic form stiffened. Slowly he rose to his feet. 

"You are insulting, " he proclaimed. "That will do. There is the door. "

"Yes, I see it. It's a nice door; the grainin' on it seems to be prettywell done. How did you get hold of those bonds, Egbert?"

"If you don't go, I shall. "

"All right. Then I'll go with you. You shan't take the three-fifteen orany other train till we've settled this and some other questions. Oh, it's a fact. No hard feelin', you know; just business, that's all. "

Egbert moved toward the door. His caller rose to follow him. The captainoften wondered afterward whether or not Phillips would really have leftthe room if there had been no interruption. The question remained aquestion because at that moment there was a knock on the other side ofthe door. It had a marked effect upon Egbert. He started, frowned andshot another glance at the clock. 

"Excuse me, " said Mrs. Backus, opening the door a crack, "but my husbandhas come. "

Phillips seemed relieved, yet troubled, too. 

"Yes--ah--yes, " he said. "Will you kindly ask him to wait? Thank you. "

The lady closed the door again. Egbert took a turn across the room andback. Kendrick smiled cheerfully. 

"About those bonds?" he observed. 

Phillips faced him. 

"The bonds, " he declared, "are mine. How I got them is not your businessin the least. "

"Just a minute, just a minute. Cordelia Berry----"

"Did Mrs. Berry tell you that I had them?"

"No need to bother with that part of it now. I know. "

"But she did not give you authority to come to me about them? Don'tpretend she did; I know better. "

"I'm not goin' to pretend--that. She didn't. "

"Humph!" with a sneer; "perhaps your authority comes from some one else. Her daughter, maybe? You and she are--or shall we say _were_--quitetouchingly confidential at one time, I believe. "

The tone and the remark were mistakes; it would have been much betterfor the Phillips cause if the speaker had continued to be loftilycondescending. Sears kept a grip on his temper, but his own tone changedas he replied. 

"Egbert, " he said sharply, "look here. The facts, as far as a manwithout a spyglass can sight 'em through the fog, are just these: Yougot George Kent into a stock trade. He put up money--real money. You putup two thousand dollars in bonds and, because that was more than yourshare, he paid you four hundred dollars in cash. The last anybody knewthe two bonds you put up were the property of Cordelia Berry. I want toknow how you got hold of 'em. "

"Am I to understand that you are accusing me of _stealing_ those bonds?"

"I'm not accusin' you of anything in particular. George has put thisaffair of his in my hands; I've got what amounts to his signed power ofattorney in my pocket. If those bonds are yours, and you can prove it, then I shan't say any more about 'em. If they still belong toCordelia--well, that's another question, one I mean to have the answerto before you and I part company. "

"Kendrick, I---- Do you realize that I can have you arrested for this?"

"I don't know. But it does seem to me that if those bonds aren't yourproperty then you had no right to pledge 'em in that stock deal. Andthat your takin' Kent's four hundred dollars in part payment for 'emcomes pretty nigh to what a lawyer would call gettin' money under falsepretenses. So the arrests might be even-Stephen, so far as that goes. "

This was the sheerest "bluff, " but it was delivered with all theassurance in the world. It had not precisely the effect Sears had hopedfor. Egbert did not seem so much frightened as annoyed by it. Hefrowned, walked across the room and back, looked at the clock, then outof the window, and finally turned to his opponent. 

"Recognizing, of course, " he sneered, "the fact that all this isabsolutely none of your business, Kendrick; may I ask why you didn'tcome to me in Bayport instead of here?"

The captain's smile returned. "I did try to come, Egbert, " he answered. "But you had gone and so had the things in your room. You told Sarah andthe stable folks you were goin' to Trumet. When I found you hadn't gonethere, but were bound for here--after hidin' your valises over night inTabby Crosby's shed--I decided you might be goin' even farther thanDenboro, and that if I wanted to see you pretty soon--or ever, maybe--I'd better hoist sail and travel fast. When the depot folks toldme you were askin' about the three-fifteen I felt confirmed in myjudgments, as the fellow said. Now if you'll tell me about those bonds?"

Another turn by Phillips across the parlor and back. Then he asked, withsarcasm, "If I were to tell you that those bonds were given me by Mrs. Berry, you wouldn't believe it, I presume?"

"We-ll, I'd like to hear a little testimony from Cordelia first. "

"May I ask why you did not go to her instead of to me?"

"I didn't have a chance. You got away too soon. "

"Possibly you may have thought that she, too, would consider it none ofyour business. And, since you won't take my word, how do you expect meto prove--here in Denboro that those bonds are mine?"

"I don't know. But if it can't be proved in Denboro, then I'm afraid, Egbert, that you'll have to go back to Bayport with me and prove itthere. .. . Oh, I know you'd hate to go, but----"

"Go! I flatly refuse to go, of course. "

"I was afraid you would. Well, then I'd have to call in the constable tohelp get you under way. Jim Baker, the depot master, is constable herein Denboro. He and I were shipmates. He'd arrest the prophet Elijah if Iasked him to, and not ask why, either. "

"Kendrick----"

"Egbert, a spell ago you and I had a little chat together and I told youI had just begun to fight. .. . Well, I haven't really begun yet, but I'mgettin' up steam. .. . Think it over. "

Phillips stopped and, standing by the window, stared fixedly at thecaptain. The latter met the stare with a look of the blandest serenity. Behind the look, however, were feelings vastly different. If ever aforlorn hope skated upon thin ice, his and George Kent's was doing so atthat moment. If Egbert _should_ agree to return to Bayport, and if hisstatement concerning the ownership of the Boston bonds _was_ true, then--well, then it would not be Mr. Phillips who might receive theattentions of the constable. 

Egbert stopped staring and once more looked at the clock. Quarter pasttwo! He turned again quickly. 

"Kendrick, " he snapped, "what _is_ your proposition?"

"My proposition? I want you to pay me the sixteen hundred dollars Kentput into that C. M. Stock deal. If you do that I'll give you his signedpaper turnin' over to you all interest in the deal. You can make all theprofit on it yourself--when it comes. Then in matter of Cordelia'sbonds----"

Phillips lifted a hand. 

"The bonds are not to be considered, " he said, decisively. "If they aremine, as I say they are, you have no claim on them. If they are Mrs. Berry's, as you absurdly pretend to think they are, again you have noclaim. If she says I have stolen them--which she won't--she mayprosecute; but, again, my dear sir, she--ah--won't. "

The slight smile accompanying the last sentence troubled the captain. Itwas not the smile of a frightened man. Before he could reply Egbertcontinued. 

"But the bond matter may be settled later, " he went on. "So far as I amconcerned it is settled now. For our--ah--foolish young friend, Kent, however, I feel a certain sense of--shall we say pity?--and am inclinedto make certain confessions. Silly sentimentalism on my part, doubtless--but pity, nevertheless. If you will give me the paper signedby him, which you claim to have, relinquishing all share in the stock atthe New York brokers, I will--well, yes, I will pay you the sixteenhundred dollars. "

It was Sears Kendrick who was staggered now. It was his turn to stare. 

"You will pay me sixteen hundred dollars--_now_?" he gasped. 

"Yes. "

"But--but. .. . Humph! Well, thanks, Egbert--but your check, you know----"

"I have no time to waste in drawing checks. I will pay you in cash. "

And, as Sears's already wide-open eyes opened wider and wider, he calmlytook from his coat a pocketbook hugely obese and extracted from thatpocketbook a mammoth roll of bank notes. 

Ten minutes later the captain was again moving along the road betweenDenboro and Bayport, bound home this time. He was driving mechanically;the horse was acting as his own pilot, for the man who held the reinswas too much engrossed in thought to pay attention to suchinconsequential matters as ruts or even roads. Sears was doing his bestto find the answer to a riddle and, so far, the answer was as deeplyshrouded in mist as ever a ship of his had been on any sea. 

He was satisfied in one way, more than satisfied. His demand for thefull sixteen hundred had been made with no real hope. Had Phillipsconsented to return eight hundred dollars of the amount, the offer wouldin the end have been accepted with outward reluctance but inward joy. Had he refused to return a penny Kendrick would not have been surprised. But Egbert, after making up his mind, had paid the entire sum without awhimper, had paid it almost casually and with the air of one obliging awell-meaning, if somewhat annoying, inferior. Inspecting and pocketingKent's power of attorney and the captain's receipt he had dismissed hisvisitor at the parsonage door as King Solomon in all his glory mighthave graciously dismissed a beggar whose petition had been granted. Andthe look in his eye and the half smile beneath the long mustache werenot those of one beaten at a game--no, they were not. 

The recollection of that look and that smile bothered Sears Kendrick. Hecould not guess what was behind them. One thing seemed to be certain, his threats of prosecution and his bluffs concerning the Boston bondshad not alarmed Phillips greatly. He had not given in because he wasafraid of imprisonment. No; no, the only symptoms of nervousness he hadshown were his repeated glances at the clock, at his watch, and when helooked out of the parsonage window. More and more the captain was forcedto the conclusion that Egbert had paid him to get rid of him, that hedid not wish to be detained or to have Kendrick remain there, and hisreasons must have been so important that he was willing to part withsixteen hundred dollars to get his visitor out of the way. 

But what possible reason could be as important as that? Why had he runaway from Bayport? Why was he taking the three-fifteen train--atDenboro? Why was he spending the time before the departure of that trainin the parlor of the Methodist parsonage? And he had made an appointmentwith the minister himself. Was he expecting some one else at thatparsonage?

Eh? The captain straightened on the buggy seat. He spoke aloud one word, a name. 

"Cordelia!" he cried. 

For another five minutes Captain Sears Kendrick, his frown growingdeeper and deeper as the conviction was forced upon him, sat motionlessin the buggy. Then he spoke sharply to his horse, turned the latterabout, and drove rapidly back to Denboro. He could do nothing worthwhile, he could prevent nothing, but he could answer that riddle. Hebelieved he had answered it already. 

It was half-past three when he again knocked at the parsonage door. TheReverend Backus himself answered the knock. 

"Why, no, " he said, "Mr. Phillips has gone. Yes, I think--I am sure hetook the train. You are his friend, aren't you? I am sorry you missedthe--er--happy event. Mrs. Phillips--the new Mrs. Phillips--is acharmingly refined lady, isn't she? And Mr. Phillips himself is _such_ agentleman. I don't know when I have had the pleasure of--er--officiatingat a pleasanter ceremony. I shall always remember it. "

Mrs. Backus looked over her husband's shoulder. 

"The bride came just after you left, " she explained. "She was just alittle late, she said; but it was all right, there was plenty of time. And she did look _so_ happy!"

Captain Kendrick did not look happy. He had answered the riddlecorrectly. An elopement, of course. It was plain enough now. Oh, if hemight have been there when that poor, silly, misguided woman arrived! Hemight not have been able to stop the marriage, but at least hecould--and would--have told the bride a few pointed truths concerningthe groom. 

Mrs. Backus, all smiles, asked her husband a question. "What did you sayher name was, dear?" she asked. 

The minister hesitated. "Why--why--" he stammered, "it was---- Dear me, how forgetful I am!"

Sears supplied the information. 

"Berry, " he said, gloomily. "Cordelia Berry. "

Mr. Backus seemed surprised. "Why, no, " he declared. "That doesn't soundlike the name. .. . It wasn't. No, it wasn't. It was--I have it--Snowden. Miss Elvira Snowden--of Ostable, I believe. "

CHAPTER XIX

Not until Captain Kendrick entered the Minot kitchen late that afternoondid he get the full and complete answer to his puzzle. Judah suppliedthe missing details, supplied them with a rush, had evidently beenbursting with them for hours. 

"My hoppin', creepin', jumpin' prophets, Cap'n Sears, " he roared, beforehis lodger could speak a word, "if I ain't got the dumdest news to tellyou now, then nobody ever had none!. .. You ain't heard it, Cap'n, haveyou? _Don't_ tell me you've heard it already! Have you?"

Sears shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Judah, " he replied. "HaveI?"

"Hoppin' Henry! I _hope_ you ain't, 'cause I wanted to tell you myself. It's about Elviry Snowden. Have you heard anything about her?"

"Why--well, what have _you_ heard?"

"Heard! They heard it fust over to the Harbor about a couple of hoursago. Bradley, the Orham lawyer feller, he'd heard it and he come over tosee Elizabeth about somethin' or 'nother and he told it to all hands. You know that aunt of Elviry's over to Ostable, the one that died lastweek? Well all hands had cal'lated she was kind of on her beamends--poor, I mean. When her husband died, don't you recollect someproperty they owned over to Harniss was goin' to be sold to auction? Allthem iron images Elviry wanted to buy was part of 'em; don't youremember?"

"Yes, I remember. 

"Sartin sure you do. Well, so fur as that goes them images wan't soldbecause the widow changed her mind about 'em and had 'em all cartedover to another little place she owned in Ostable, and set up in theyard there. She's been livin' on this place in Ostable and everybodyfiggered she didn't have much money else she'd stayed in the big housein Harniss. But, by Henry, since she's died it's come out that she wasrich. Yes, sir, rich! She'd saved every cent, you see; never spentnothin'. A reg'lar mouser, she was--miser, I mean. And who do yousuppose she's left it all to? Elviry, by the creepin'! Yes, sir, everylast cent to Elviry Snowden. "

"_No!!_"

"Yes. Elviry's rich. 'Cordin' to Bradley's tell there's a lot of landand a house and barn, and all them iron images, and--wait; let me tellyou--stocks, and things like that, and over ten thousand dollars cash inthe bank, by Henry! In _cash_, where Elviry can get right aholt of it ifshe wants to. Much as thirty thousand, altogether, land and all. And. .. . What in tunket are you laughin' at?"

For Captain Kendrick had thrown himself into the rocking chair and wasshaking the pans on the stove with peal after peal of laughter. 

It was so simple, so complete, and so wonderfully, gorgeously Egbertian. A little matter of arithmetic, that was all. Merely the substitution oftwenty or thirty thousand dollars and a landed estate for five--no, three--thousand dollars and a somewhat cramped future at the FairHarbor. The ladies in the case were incidental. When the choice wasoffered him the businesslike Phillips hesitated not a moment. He was onwith the new love even before he was off with the old. And, in order toavoid the unpleasantness which was sure to ensue when the old found itout, he had arranged to be married at Denboro and to be far afield uponhis wedding tour before the news reached Bayport. 

Everything was clear now. Elvira's windfall explained it all. It was hermoney which had paid Captain Elkanah, and Sarah Macomber, and the liveryman, and no doubt many another of Egbert's little bills. It was hermoney that was paying the honeymoon expenses. And, of course, it washer sixteen hundred dollars which had just been handed to Sears Kendrickin the parlor of the parsonage. 

No wonder that, under the circumstances, Egbert had chosen to pay. Itmust have been a nerve-racking session for him, that interview with thecaptain. Each minute might bring his bride-to-be to the parsonage door, and if she learned before marriage of Cordelia's bonds and theKent-Phillips stock speculation, not to mention the threatened arrestand consequent scandal, why--well, Elvira was fatuously smitten, but thechances were that the wedding would have been postponed, if nothingworse. No wonder Egbert preferred parting with a portion of hislady-love's fortune to the risk of parting with the lady herself--andthe remainder of it. 

Sears did not tell Judah of the elopement. He did not feel like it, then. His had been a tiring day and the strain upon his own nerves notslight. He wanted to rest, he wanted to think, and he did not want totalk. Judah spared him the trouble; he did talking enough for two. 

After supper George Kent came hurrying into the yard. Sears had expectedhim and, when he came, led him into the "spare stateroom" and closed thedoor. Then, without any preliminaries, he took the sixteen hundreddollars from his wallet and gave them to him. 

"There's your money, George, " he said. 

Kent could not believe it. He had come here, in the last stages ofdespair. This was practically his final day of grace. The afternoon mailhad brought him another letter from his brother-in-law, making immediatedemand and threatening drastic action within the week. He had come, haggard, nervous and trembling, ready to proclaim again his intention ofself-destruction. 

He sat there, staring at the money in his hand, saying nothing. His facewas as white as the clean towels on the captain's washstand. Kendrick, leaning forward, laid a hand on his knee. 

"Brace up, George, " he ordered, sharply. "Don't let go of the wheel. "

Kent slowly lifted his gaze from the roll of bills to his friend's face. 

"You--you _got_ it!" he faltered. 

"_I_ got it--all of it. There's the whole sixteen hundred there. Countit. "

"But--but, oh, my God! I--I----"

"Sshh! Steady as she is, George. Count your money. Put it on the tablehere by the lamp. "

He took the bills from Kent's shaking fingers, arranged them on thetable and, at last, coaxed or drove the young man into beginning tocount them. Of course it was Kendrick himself who really counted; hiscompanion did little but pick up the bank notes and drop them again. Suddenly, in the midst of the performance, he stopped, put his hands tohis face and burst into hysterical sobs. 

Sears let him cry for a time, merely stepping across to make sure thatthe bedroom door was tightly closed, and then standing above him withhis hands on the bowed shoulders. After a little the sobs ceased. Amoment later and George raised his head. 

"Oh!" he exclaimed. "What a--a kid I am!"

Sears, who had been thinking pretty nearly that very thing, patted theshoulder beneath his hand. 

"All right, George, " he said. "Bein' a kid is no crime. In fact, it hassome advantages. "

"But--but, you see--I--I have been through purgatory this week, I----"

"I know. But you're all through and out now. "

"Yes, I--I am. By George, I am, aren't I!. .. And you did it for me. _You_ did!"

"Never mind that. I enjoyed doin' it. Yes, " with a slight smile, "I hada pretty good time, take it by and large. "

"And you got the--the whole of it! The whole!"

"Yes. "

"But I can't understand. .. . Did--Cap'n Kendrick, did you borrow it forme?"

"No. I talked things over with your--er--side-partner and he decided togive it back. "

"To give it back! Mr. Phillips did, you mean? But he wouldn't give it tome. I begged him to. I should have been satisfied with half of it--mysister's half. Indeed I should! But he said he couldn't give it to me, he didn't have it to give. And--and you got him to give me the whole!Cap'n Kendrick, I--I can't understand. "

"You don't have to. There's your sixteen hundred. Now take it, andbefore you turn in this night you get ready to send your brother-in-lawhis half, and the papers that go with it, on the first mail. That's allI ask of you, George. "

"I'll have it in the post office as soon as it opens to-morrow morning. You bet I will!"

"That's what I want to be able to bet. You send a money-order, that'ssafest. And--well, yes, George, you might show me the receipt. "

"I'll show it to you. You can keep it for me, if you want to. "

"Seein' it will do. And one thing more: you promise me now, on your wordof honor, not to take any more of those stock market fliers for--well, for ten years, anyhow. "

Kent promised; he would have promised anything. His color had come back, his spirits were now as high as they had been low, and he was stridingup and down the room like a mad thing. 

"But how did you get it for me?" he kept demanding. The captain bade himstop. 

"Never mind how I got it, " he declared. "I got it, and you've got it, and you'll have to be satisfied with that. Don't ask me again, George. "

"I won't, but--but I can't understand Mr. Phillips giving it back. Hedidn't have to, you know. Say, I think it was mighty generous of him, after all. Don't you?"

Sears's lip twitched. "It looks as if somebody was generous, " heobserved. "Now run along, George, and fix up that letter to yourbrother-in-law. "

"I'm going to. I'm going now. But, Cap'n Kendrick, I don't know what tosay to you. I--why, great Scott, I can't begin to tell you how I feelabout what you've done! I'd cut off my head for you; honest I would. "

"Cuttin' off your own head would be consider'ble of a job. Better keepyour head on, George. .. . And use it once in a while. "

"You know what this means to me, Cap'n Kendrick. To my future and--andmaybe some one else's future, too. Why, _now_ I can go--I can say----Oh, great Scott!"

Kendrick opened the bedroom door. "Come now, George, " he said. "Goodnight--and good luck. "

Kent would have said more, much more, even though Judah Cahoon wassitting, with ears and mouth open, in the kitchen. But the captain wouldnot let him linger or speak. He helped him on with his coat and hat, and, with a slap on the back, literally pushed him out into the yard. Then he turned on his heel and striding again through the kitchenreëntered the spare stateroom and closed the door behind him. Judahshouted something about its being "not much more'n two bells"--meaningnine o'clock--but he received no answer. 

Judah did not retire until nearly eleven that night, but when, at last, he did go to his own room, there was a light still shining under thedoor of the spare stateroom and he could hear the captain's footstepsmoving back and forth, back and forth, within. For two hours he had soheard them. Obviously the "old man" was pacing the deck, a pretty suresign of rough weather present or expected. Mr. Cahoon was troubled, alsodisappointed. He would have liked to talk interminably concerning thesensational news of Miss Snowden's inheritance; he had not begun toexhaust the possibilities of that subject. Then, too, he was veryanxious to learn where Captain Sears had been all day, and why. He triedin various ways to secure attention. But when, after singing eightverses of the most doleful ditty in his repertoire, he was not orderedto "shut up, " was in fact ignored altogether, he quit disgusted. But, ashe closed the door of his own bedchamber, he could still hear theregular footfalls in the spare stateroom. 

Had he listened for another hour or more he would have heard them. SearsKendrick was tramping back and forth, his hands jammed in his pockets, and upon his spirit the blackest and deepest and densest of clouds. Itwas the reaction, of course. He was tired physically, but more tiredmentally. All day long he had been under a sharp strain, now he wasexperiencing the let-down. But there was more than that. His campaignagainst Egbert Phillips had kept him interested. Now the fight was overand, although superficially he was the victor, in reality it was aquestion which side had won. He had saved George Kent's money and hisgood name. And Cordelia Berry's future was safe, too, although her twothousand dollars might be, and probably were, lost. But, after all, hiswas a poor sort of victory. Egbert was, doubtless, congratulatinghimself and chuckling over the outcome of the battle; with thirtythousand dollars and ease and comfort for the rest of his life, he couldafford to chuckle. Kent's happiness was sure. He could go to Elizabethnow with clean hands and youth and hope. Perhaps he had gone to heralready. That very evening he and she might be together once more. 

And for the man who had made this possible, what remained? Where werethose silly hopes with which, at one time, he had deluded himself? Hehad dared to dream romance. Where was that romance now? Face to facewith reality, what was to be _his_ future? More days and weeks and yearsof puttering with the penny-paring finances of a home for old women?

He dressed next morning with a mind made up. He had dallied anddeliberated and wished long enough. Now he _knew_. His stay in Bayportwas practically ended. Give him a little time and luck enough to find acompetent manager for the Fair Harbor, one with whom he believed JudgeKnowles would have been satisfied, and he was through for good. He mustplay fair with the judge and then--then for the shipping offices ofBoston or New York and a berth at sea. His health was almost normal;his battered limbs were nearly as sound as ever. He could handle a shipand he could handle men. His fights and sacrifices for others werefinished, over and done with. Now he would fight for himself. 

His breakfast appetite was poor. Judah, aghast at the sight of hisuntouched plate, demanded to know if he was sick. The answer to thequestion was illuminating. 

"No, " snapped the captain, "I'm not sick. .. . Yes, I am, too. I'm sick todeath of this town and this place and this landlubber's job. Judah, areyou goin' to spend the rest of your days playin' hired boy for OgdenMinot? Or are you comin' to sea again with me? Because to sea is whereI'm goin'--and mighty quick. "

Judah's mouth opened. "Hoppin' Henry!" he gasped. "Why, Cap'n Sears----"

"You don't _like_ this job, do you? Hadn't you rather have your owngalley on board a decent ship? Are you a sea-man--or a washwoman? Don'tyou want to ship with me again?"

"_Want_ to! Cap'n Sears, you know I'd rather go to sea along with youthan--than be King of Rooshy. But you ain't fit to go to sea yet. "

"Shut up! Don't you dare say that again. And stand by to pack your seachest when I give the order. .. . No, I don't want to argue. I won'targue. Clear out!"

Mr. Cahoon, bewildered but obedient, cleared out. Not long afterward hedrove away on the seat of the truck wagon to haul the Bangs wood, thetask postponed from the previous day. Kendrick, left alone, lit a pipeand resumed his pacing up and down. Later on he took pen, ink and paperand seated himself at the table to write some letters to shippingmerchants whose vessels he had commanded in the old days, the happy daysbefore he gave up seafaring to become a poor imitation of a business manon shore. 

He composed these letters with care. Two were completed and the thirdwas under way, when some one knocked at the other door. He laid down hispen impatiently. He did not want to be interrupted. If the visitor wasKent he did not feel like listening to more thanks. If it was EstherTidditt she could unload her cargo of gossip at some other port. 

But the caller was neither George nor Esther. It was Elizabeth whoentered the kitchen in answer to his command to "Come in. " He rose togreet her. She looked pale--yes, and tired, but she smiled faintly asshe bade him good morning. 

"Cap'n Kendrick, " she said, "are you very busy? I suppose you are, but--but if you are not too busy I should like to talk with you for afew minutes. May I?"

He nodded. "Of course, " he said. "My business can wait a little longer;it has waited a good while, this particular business has. Sit down. "

She took the rocker. He sat at the other side of the table, waiting forher to speak. It came to him, the thought that, the last time she hadvisited that kitchen, she had left it vowing never to speak to himagain. Well, at least that was over; she no longer believed him a spy, and all the rest of it. There was, or should be, some comfort for him inknowing that. 

Suddenly, just as she had done on the platform of the lawyer's office atOrham, she put out her hand. 

"Don't!" she pleaded. 

He started, confusedly. "Don't?" he stammered. "What?"

"Don't think of--of what you were thinking. If you knew--oh, Cap'nKendrick, if you could only realize how wicked I feel. Even when I saidthose dreadful things to you I didn't mean them. And now---- Oh, _please_ forget them, if you can. "

He drew a long breath. "I never saw any one like you, " he declared. "Howdid you know what I was thinkin'? . .. Of course I wasn't thinkin' it, but----"

She interrupted. "Of course you were, you mean, " she said, with a faintsmile. "It isn't hard to know what you think. You don't hide yourthoughts very well, Cap'n Kendrick. They aren't the kind one needs tohide. "

He stared at her in guilty amazement. "Good land!" he ejaculated, involuntarily. "Don't talk that way. What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that your thoughts are always straightforward and--well, honest, like yourself. .. . But we mustn't waste time. I don't know when we shallhave another opportunity to be together like this, and there are somethings I must say to you. Cap'n Kendrick, you know--you have heard thenews?"

"News?. .. Oh, you mean about Elvira's inheritin' all that money?"

"That, of course. But that wasn't the news I meant. I mean about hereloping with--with that man. "

Troubled even as Sears was at the sight of her evident distress, hecould not but feel a thrill of satisfaction at the tone in which shereferred to "that man. " He nodded. 

"I've heard it, " he said. "I guess likely I was about the firstBayporter that did hear it. When did you hear?"

"A little while ago. He wrote--he wrote my mother a letter. It was atthe post office this morning. "

"He did? He _didn't_! The low-lived scamp!"

"Hush! Don't talk about him. Yes, he wrote her. _Such_ a letter! Sheshowed it to me. So full of hypocrisy, and lies and--oh, can't youimagine what it was?"

Kendrick's right fist tapped the table gently. "I guess likely I can, "he said, grimly. "Well, some of these days I may run afoul of Egbertagain. When I do----" The fist closed a little tighter. 

"You won't touch him. Promise me you won't. If you should, I---- Oh, dear! I think I should be afraid to touch your hands afterwards. "

Sears smiled. "It might be safer to use my boot, " he admitted. "Yourmother--how is she?"

"Can't you imagine? I think--I hope it is her pride that is hurt morethan anything. For some little time--well, ever since I found out thatshe was lending him money--I have done my best to make her see what hereally is. But before that--oh, there is no use pretending, for youknow--she was insane about him. And now, with the shock and thedisillusionment and the shame, she is---- Oh, it is dreadful!"

"Do the--er--rest of 'em over there know it yet?"

"No, but they will very soon. And when they do! You know what some ofthem are, what they will say. We can't stay there, mother and I. We mustgo away--and we will. "

She was crying, and if ever a man yearned for the rôle of comforter, Sears Kendrick was that man. He tried to say something, but he wasafraid to trust his own tongue; it might run away with him. And beforehis attempt was at all coherent, she went on. 

"Don't mind me, " she said, hastily wiping her eyes. "I am nervous, and Ihave been through a bad hour, and--and I am acting foolishly, of course. I know that this is, in a way, the very best thing that could happen. This ends it, so far as mother is concerned. Oh, it might have been _so_much worse! It looked as if it were going to be. Now she _knows_ what heis. I have known it, or been almost sure of it, for a long time. And youmust have known it always, from the beginning. That is a part of what Icame here for this morning. Please tell me how you knew and--and allabout everything. "

So he told her, beginning with what Judge Knowles had said concerningLobelia's husband, and continuing on to the end. She listened intently. 

"Yes, " she said. "I see. I wish you could have told me at first. I thinkif I had known exactly how Judge Knowles felt I might not have been sofoolish. But I should have known--I should have seen for myself. Ofcourse I should. To think that I ever believed in such a creature, andtrusted him, and permitted him to influence me against--against a friendlike you. Oh, I must have been crazy!"

Kendrick shook his head. "No craziness about that, " he declared. "I'veseen some smooth articles in my time, seen 'em afloat and ashore, fromone end of this world to the other, but of all the slick ones he wasthe slickest. It's a good thing the judge warned me before Egbertcrossed my bows. If he hadn't--well, I don't know; _I_ might have beenlendin' him my last dollar, and proud of the chance--you can't tell. .. . I'm sorry, though, " he added, "that he got those bonds of your mother's. Borrowed 'em of her, you say?"

"Yes. He was going to make better investments for her, I believe hesaid. But that doesn't make any difference. She has no receipts oranything to show. And of course if she should try to get them againthere would be dreadful gossip, all sorts of things said. No, the bondsare gone and . .. But how did you know about the bonds, Cap'n Kendrick?"

Sears had momentarily forgotten. He had, during his story of his warwith Phillips, carefully avoided mentioning Kent's trouble. He had toldof chasing Egbert to Denboro, but the particular reason for the pursuithe had not told. He was taken aback and embarrassed. 

"Why--why----" he stammered. 

But she answered her own question. "Of course!" she cried. "I know howyou knew. George said that--that that man had used some bonds as a partof their stock speculation. I didn't think then of mother's bonds. Thatis what he did with them. I see. "

The captain looked at her. Kent had told her of the C. M. Deal. Thatmeant that he had seen her, that already he had gone to her, to confess, to beg her pardon, to . .. He sighed. Well, he should be glad, of course. He must pretend to be very glad. 

"So--so you've seen George?" he stammered. 

She colored slightly. "Yes, " she answered. "He came to see me lastevening. .. . Cap'n Kendrick you should hear him speak of you. You savedhim from disgrace--and worse, he says. It was a wonderful thing to do. But I think you must be in the habit of doing wonderful things for otherpeople. "

He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothin' very wonderful about it, " he said. "George is a good boy. He hadn't bumped into any Egberts before, that'sall. He'll be on the lookout for 'em now. I'm glad for him--and foryou. "

If she understood what he meant she did not show any embarrassment. 

"I don't know that you need be so glad for me, " she said. "Yet in a wayI am glad. The problem is settled now, mother's and mine. She and I willgo away. "

"Go away? From the Fair Harbor?"

"Yes, and from Bayport. She has a little money left. Thanks to JudgeKnowles, I have some of my own. She and I can live on the interest for atime, or until I can find a way to earn more. "

"But--but--George?"

"I think George is going away, too. He spoke of Boston. But there isanother thing I meant to say to you. I hate to leave you with the entirecare of the Fair Harbor on your hands. I shall try and help you to findanother matron before we go. "

Sears rose from his chair. "That's all right, " he said, "that part ofit. We'll try and find another outside manager at the same time. Yousee, you and your mother aren't the only ones who are quittin' Bayport. I'm goin', too. "

She turned to look at him. "_You_ are going?" she repeated, slowly. "Where?"

"I don't know exactly. To sea, I hope. I'm well again, or next door toit. I mean to command another ship, if such a thing's possible. "

"But you are leaving the Fair Harbor. Why?"

He turned on her almost fiercely. "Why?" he cried. "Don't you know why?Because I'm a man--or I was one--and I want to be a man again. On shore, I'm--well, I'm a good deal of a failure, I guess; but on salt water Icount for somethin'. I'm goin' to sea where I belong. "

He strode to the window and stood there, looking out. He heard her rise, heard her step beside him. Then he felt her hand upon his. 

"I'm glad for you, " she said, simply. "Very, very glad. I wish I were aman and could go, too. "

He did not look at her, he did not dare. 

"It's a rough life, " he said, "but I like it. "

"I know. .. . So you will soon be really seeing again those things youtold me about, the foreign cities and the people and those islands--andall the wonderful, wonderful places. And you won't have to fret aboutthe grocery bills, or the mean little Fair Harbor gossip, or anything ofthe kind. You can just sail away and forget it all. "

"I shan't forget it all. There's a lot I never want to forget. "

There was an interval of silence here, an interval that, to the captain, seemed to last for ages. It must be broken, it must be or. .. . 

"I shall think of you and George often enough, " he announced, briskly. "Yes, indeed. And--and if it isn't too soon--that is, if you don't mindmy bein' the first one--I'd like to congratulate you and wish you asmooth passage and a long one. "

She did not answer and he mustered courage to turn and look at her. Shewas looking at him and her expression was odd. 

"A smooth passage?" she repeated. "Why, Cap'n Kendrick, I'm not going tosea. What do you mean?"

"I mean--well, I meant--er--oh, I was speakin' in parables, like aminister, you know. I was wishin' you and George a happy voyage throughlife, that's all. "

"George! Why, I am going away with my mother. George isn't. .. . Why, Cap'n Kendrick, you don't think--you can't think that George and Iare--are----"

"Eh? Aren't you? I thought----"

She shook her head. "I told you once, " she said. "I mean it. I likeGeorge well enough--sometimes I like him better than at others. But--oh, why can't you believe me?"

He was staring at her with a gaze so intent, an expression so strangethat she could not meet it. She turned away. 

"Please don't say any more about it, " she begged. 

"But--but George is--he has counted on it. He told me----"

"Don't. I don't know what he told you. I hope nothing foolish. He and Iunderstand each other. Last night, when he came, I told him . .. There, Imust go, Cap'n Kendrick. I have left mother alone too long already. "

"Wait!" he shouted it. "You mean . .. You aren't goin' to marry GeorgeKent--_ever_?"

"Why, no, of course not!"

"Elizabeth--oh, my soul, I--I'm crazy, I guess--but--Elizabeth, couldyou---- No, you couldn't, I know. .. . But _am_ I crazy? Could you--doyou--Elizabeth, if you . .. _Stop_!"

She was on her way to the door. 

He sprang after her, caught her hand. 

"Elizabeth, " he cried, the words tumbling over each other, "I'mthirty-eight years old. I'm a sailor, that's all. I'm not much of a man, as men go maybe, sort of a failure so far. But--with you to work for andlive for, I--I guess I could be--I feel as if I could be almostanything. Could you give me that chance? Could you?"

She did not answer; did not even look at him. He dropped her hand. 

"Of course not, " he sighed. "Just craziness was what it was. Forgive me, my girl. And--forget it, if you can. "

She did not speak. Slowly, and still without looking at him, she walkedout of the kitchen. The outer door closed behind her. He put his hand tohis eyes, breathed deeply, and returning to the chair by the table, satheavily down. 

"A failure, " he groaned aloud. "Lord Almighty, _what_ a failure!"

He had not heard the door open, but he did hear her step, and felt herarms about his neck and her kiss upon his cheek. 

"Don't, don't, don't!" she sobbed. "Oh, my dear, don't say that. Don'tever say it again. Oh, you mustn't. "

And he did not. For the next half hour he said many other things, andso did she, and when at last she did go away, he stood in the doorway, looking after her, knowing himself to be not a failure, but the one realoverwhelming success in all this gloriously successful world. 

CHAPTER XX

It was April and one of those beautiful early spring days with which NewEngland is sometimes favored. The first buds were showing on the trees, the first patches of new green were sprinkling the sheltered slopes ofthe little hills, and under the dead leaves by the edges of the woodsboys had been rummaging for the first mayflowers. 

It was supper time at the Fair Harbor and the "guests"--quoting Mrs. Susannah Brackett--or the "inmates"--quoting Mr. Judah Cahoon--wereseated about the table. There were some notable vacancies in the roster. At the head, where Mrs. Cordelia Berry had so graciously and for so longpresided, there was now an empty chair. That chair would soon be filled, however; the new matron of the Harbor was at that moment in the officediscussing business matters with Mr. Bradley, the new "outside manager. "She had told the others not to wait for her; she would come to supper assoon as she could. So Mrs. Brackett, who had moved up to the seat onceglorified by the dignity of Miss Elvira Snowden, was serving the coldcorned beef; while opposite her, in the chair where Elizabeth Berry usedto sit, Mrs. Aurora Chase was ladling forth the preserved pears. And, inthe absence of the matron, it was of course natural that conversationshould turn to subjects which could not be discussed as freely orpointedly in her presence. 

Miss Desire Peasley began the discussion. She looked at the ancientclock on the mantel. The time was a quarter to six. 

"H'm, " sniffed Miss Peasley, with a one-sided smile. "I suppose likelythe great event's took place long afore this. They're married and off ontheir honeymoon by now. .. . If you can call a cruise on board a shipbound to an outlandish place like Singapore a honeymoon. I took onevoyage to Bombay with my brother, and 'twan't the honeymoon trip I'dpick out. _Such_ a place! And such folks! The clothes those poorheathens wore--or didn't wear! Shameful! Don't talk!"

The order not to talk was plainly not considered binding, for every oneimmediately began to talk. 

"I should like to have seen the weddin', " proclaimed Mrs. Hattis Thomas, with a giggle. "Must have looked more like an adoptin' ceremony than amarryin'. I've always been thankful for one thing, I married a mansomewheres nigh my own age, anyhow. "

"Wonder how Cordelia likes bein' left alone?" observed Mrs. ConstanceCahoon. "She's been used to havin' a daughter to wait on her hand andfoot. Now she'll have to wait on herself for a spell. But I presumelikely she won't mind that. Livin' up to Boston, with the interest oftwenty-five thousand dollars to live on, will suit her down to theground. She'll be airy enough now. Won't speak to common folks, Isuppose. Well, she won't have to put herself out to speak to _me_. _I_shan't go a-visitin' her, even if she begs me to. "

There was no immediate symptom of Mrs. Berry's begging for visitors, atleast none present had so far received an invitation. But all nodded, indicating that they, too, would scorn the plea when it came. 

"That poor man!" sighed Mrs. Brackett, pityingly. "How those two, motherand daughter, did pull the wool over his eyes. I suppose he thinks weall believe he wouldn't take a cent of Elizabeth's money. Humph! Goodreason why Jack wouldn't eat his supper--he didn't have a chance. Ha, ha! I cal'late he'd taken it if he could have got it. But his wife knewa trick worth two of that. She'll keep him afloat and hard at workearnin' more for her to spend. Well, I hope his poor lame legs won'tgive out on him. If he has to give up goin' to sea _again_, I pity him, that's all I've got to say. "

Mrs. Chase, her jet black locks a trifle askew as usual, was listening, the hand holding the preserve spoon cupped behind her ear and the spoonitself sticking out like a Fiji Islander's head ornament. As usual shehad heard next to nothing. 

"That's what _I_ say!" she declared. "Why, Mr. Bradley, or whoever wasresponsible, let Sears Kendrick put a woman with six children in asmatron of this place, I can't understand. Of course it's plain enoughwhy Cap'n Sears wanted her to have the job. Joel Macomber's wages ain'tmore than twelve dollars a week and the salary here'll give 'em all theluxuries and doodads they want. Fust thing you know that Sary-Mary ofhers'll be goin' to the Middleboro Academy to school. I wouldn't put itpast her. .. . Hey? What did you say, Susanna?"

Mrs. Brackett had not said anything. She and some of the others wereglancing uneasily in the direction of the hall door. All agreed that theappointment of Sarah Macomber as matron of the Fair Harbor was anoutrage, but no one cared to have Mrs. Macomber know of that agreement. It was an experiment, that appointment, and Sarah herself was by nomeans confident of its success, although she had at last agreed to giveit three months' trial. Half of that time was over and so far all waswell. Bradley expressed huge satisfaction. Mrs. Macomber came to theHarbor early each morning and went home again after supper. Sarah-Maryand a hired girl, wages three dollars a week, were doing the Macomberhousework. 

"Hey?" shouted Aurora once more. "What did you say, Susanna?"

Mrs. Brackett, after another uneasy glance at the hall door, nodded andsmiled. Mrs. Cahoon spoke quickly, in order to change the subject. 

"What do you suppose I heard to-day?" she answered. "I met Josiah Ellisdown to 'Liphalet's store and he told me he see Mr. Phillips yesterday. Josiah drove one of the livery hoss-'n'-teams over to Denboro--had aBoston notion drummer to cart over there, he did--and who should comedrivin' along but Mr. Phillips. Josiah said he was dressed just aselegant as ever was, and the hoss-'n'-team he was drivin' was styled-upto match. Josiah hailed him and Mr. Phillips stopped and talked for afew minutes. Nice as always, not a bit of airs. No, Elviry wan't withhim. Mr. Phillips said she was to home gettin' him ready to go away fora little vacation. Seems he's cal'latin' to go to New York for afortni't. Mr. Phillips told Josiah that Elviry was kind of tired out, they'd done so much entertainin' this winter, and he was goin' away so'sshe could have a little rest. Ain't that just like him?Self-sacrificin'--my sakes! Elviry's a lucky woman, that's all I've gotto say. I don't say so much about _his_ luck; but when she got him shedone well. "

There was a general buzz of agreement about the table. Then from thekitchen, where she had gone to get a fresh supply of cream-of-tartarbiscuit, came little Mrs. Tidditt. She put the plate of biscuits on thetable and sat down. 

"What's that, Constance?" she demanded. 

Mrs. Cahoon repeated the news of the Phillips family. Aurora put in aword. 

"There's one thing I've always been sorry for, " she said. "Of course Iwouldn't take anything away from Elviry, she and I have always been goodfriends. But she's got enough as 'tis, and I _do_ wish--I do wish thatSears Kendrick had stayed away from this place until we'd had a chanceto buy them lovely lawn statues. We'll never have another chance likethat again. "

Esther Tidditt smiled. "Yes, you will, Aurora, " she snapped. "Yes, youwill. Give him time and about two or three more New York trips, andthose images will be up at auction again. Thirty thousand don't lastsome folks long, and Elviry and her Eg will be needin' money to paygrocery bills. You can't eat an iron lion. Just wait, Aurora. We mayhave that menagerie in the yard here yet. Possess your soul inpatience. "

There was another buzz about the table, this time of scornfuldisapproval. Mrs. Chase leaned forward. 

"What's she sayin', Susanna?" she demanded, querulously. "SusannaBrackett, why don't you or the rest tell me what she's sayin'?"

 * * * * *

At that moment the ship _Gold Finder_, of Boston, Winthrop andHunniwell, owners, Sears Kendrick, master, was sailing out over thewaters of Massachusetts Bay. Astern, a diamond point against thedarkening sky, Minot's Light shone. The vessel was heeling slightly inthe crisp evening wind, her full, rounded sails rustling overhead, hercordage creaking, foam at her forefoot and her wake stretching backwardtoward the land she was leaving. Her skipper stood aft by the binnacle, feeling, with a joy quite indescribable, the lift of the deck beneathhim and the rush of the breeze across his face. 

From the open door of the galley lamplight streamed. Within Judah Cahoonsang as he worked over the stove. Judah had had a glorious afternoon. His chanteys had cast off the hawsers, had walked away with the ropes, had hoisted the sails, had bade the tug good-by. Now his voice was athought frayed, but he sang on. 

Elizabeth--now Elizabeth Berry no more forever--came up the companionladder. She joined her husband by the after rail. The sea air was chilland she was wearing one of the captain's pea jackets, the collar turnedup; a feathery strand of her brown hair blew out to leeward. She stoodbeside him. The man at the wheel was looking down into the binnacle andSears took her hand. 

"Well?" he said, after a moment. 

She looked up at him. "Well?" she said. 

Neither spoke immediately. Then Kendrick breathed a sigh, a sighexpressive of many things. 

She understood. As always she knew what he was thinking. 

"Yes, " she said, "it is glorious. Glorious for me; but for you, Sears----"

"Yes. It's pretty fine. I really never expected to make sail out ofBoston harbor again. And if anybody had told me that I was to--" withanother look at the helmsman, and lowering his voice--"to leave portthis way--with you----"

He laughed aloud. 

She laughed, too. "And just think, " she said; "no more little worries orpettinesses, no more whispers, or faultfinding, or----"

"Or Fair Harbors. You're right, my girl. We're off, clean away from itall, bound out. "

From the galley Judah's voice came, beginning the second verse of hissong, "'Aloft! Aloft!' our jolly bos'n cries. Blow high! blow low! and so sailed we. 'Look ahead, look astern, look a-weather and a-lee, Look along down the coast of the High Bar-ba-ree. '

 "'There's none upon the starn, there's none upon the lee. ' Blow high! blow low! and so sailed we. 'There's a lofty ship to wind'ard a-sailin' fast and free, Sailin' down along the coast of the High Bar-ba-ree. '"

THE END

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