TheyharnessedDanieltothecarryall，andstowedthelivingfreightaboardsomehow，althoughCaptainPerezprotestedthathehadeatensomuchdinnerhedidn’tknow’she’dbeabletohangonthewayhedidcomingdown。ThentheysaidfarewelltoCaptainDavisandhissisterandstartedforhome。Themembersofthecrew，suchofthemaswereaboutthestation，wavedgood-bytothemastheypassed。”Thingskindofaverageupinthisworld，don’tthey？”saidCaptainErireflectively，ashesteeredDanielalongthesoftbeachtowardtheford。”We’reallthetimereadin’’boutfellersthatworkfortheGov’mentgittin’highsal’riesanddoin’nexttonothin’。Nowthere’sagang——thelife-savin’crew，Imean——thatdoeswhatyouandmewouldcallalmightyhardworkandgitnexttonothin’forit。UncleSamgitssquarethere，itseemstome。Afewdollarsamonthandfindyourselfain’tgilt-edgedwagesforbein’frozeanddrowndedandblowntopiecestenmonthsoutoftheyear，isit？”
　　Thetidewashigherwhentheycametothecrossingthanithadbeenwhentheydroveoverbefore，buttheymadethepassageallright，althoughtherewassomenervousnessdisplayedbythefeminineportionoftheparty。WhentheyreachedhometheyfoundCaptainJerrycontentedlysmokinghispipe，thesickmanwasasleep，andeverythingwasserene。Josiahappearedfrombehindthebarn，wherehehadbeensmokingacigarette。
　　TheypressedMr。Hazeltinetostaytosupper，buthedeclined，allegingthathehadbeenawayfrombusinesstoolongalready。Hehadbeenremarkablysilentduringthehomewardride，andElsie，too，hadseemedbusywithherthoughts。Shewasfulloffunatthesuppertable，however，andthemealwasajollyone。JustasitwasfinishedCaptainJerrystruckthetableabangwithhispalmthatmadetheknivesandforksjump，andsostartledCaptainPerezastocausehimtospillhalfacupofteaoverhisshirtbosom。”Landoflove！”ejaculatedthevictim，moppinghischinandhistiewithhisnapkin。”It’sbadenoughtoscareafellertodeath，letalonedrowndin’andscaldin’himatthesametime。Whatdidyoudothatfor？””Ijestthoughtofsomethin’，”exclaimedCaptainJerry，goingthroughonepocketaftertheother。”Well，Iwishyou’dhaveyourthinkin’fitsinthebarnorsomewhereselsenexttime。Iputthisshirtoncleanthismornin’
　　andnowlookatit！”
　　Hisfriendwastoobusytopayanyattentiontothisadvice。Thepocketsearchapparentlybeingunsatisfactory，herosefromthetableandhurriedlymadearoundoftheroom，lookingonthemantelpieceandunderchairs。”IhaditwhenIcomein，”hesoliloquized。”IknowIdid，’causeIwaswearin’itwhenIwentouttoseetothehens。Idon’tseewhere——””Ifit’syourhatyou’relookingfor，”observedJosiah，”IsawMrs。
　　Snowhangituponthenailbehindthedoor。Thereitisnow。”
　　Thereplytothiswasmerelyagrunt，whichmay，ormaynothaveexpressedapproval。Atanyrate，thehatwasapparentlytheobjectofhissearch，forhetookitfromthenail，lookedinside，andwithasighofrelieftookoutacrumpledenvelope。”IknewIputitsomewheres，”hesaid。”It’saletterforyou，Elsie。Josiah，here，hebroughtitdownfromthepost-officewhenhecomefromschoolthisafternoon。Imeanttogiveittoyouafore。”
　　CaptainEri，whosatnexttotheyounglady，noticedthattheenvelopewasaddressedinanirregular，sprawlinghandto”MissElizabethPreston，Orham，Mass。”Elsielookeditoverintheabsentwayinwhichsomanyofusexaminetheoutsideofaletterwhichcomesunexpectedly。”Iwonderwhoitisfrom，”shesaid。
　　Shedidnotopenitatonce，but，tuckingitintoherwaist，announcedthatshemustrunupstairs，inorderthatMrs。Snowmightcomedowntosupper。Thehousekeeperdidcomedownafewminuteslater，and，asshewasinterestedtoknowmoreaboutLutherDavisandhissister，thetalkbecameanimatedandgeneral。
　　Itwasaftereighto’clockwhenMrs。Snow，havingfinishedwashingthedishes——sheallowednoonetoassistherinthisoperationsincethetimewhenshecaughtCaptainJerryabsent-mindedlyusingthedustraginsteadofthedishcloth——wentupstairstoherpatient。ShortlyafterwardElsiecamedown，wearingherhatandjacket。”I’mgoingoutforalittlewhile，”shesaid。”No，Idon’twantanyonetogowithme。I’llbebacksoon。”
　　Herbackwasturnedtothethreecaptainsasshespoke，but，assheopenedthedoor，thelamplightshoneforaninstantonherface，andCaptainErinoticed，orfanciedthathedid，thatshewaspalerthanusual。Herose，andagainofferedtoaccompanyher，butmetwithsuchafirmrefusalthathecouldnotinsistfurther。”Now，that’skindoffunny，ain’tit？”remarkedPerez。”Idon’tb’lieveshe’sbeenoutaloneaforeafterdarksenceshe’sbeenhere。””Wheredidyougitthatletter，Josiah？”askedCaptainEri。
　　ItmayaswellbeexplainedherethatCaptainPerez’grand-nephewwasathorninthefleshtoeveryone，includinghisindulgentrelative。HewasalittleafraidofMrs。Snow，andobeyedherbetterthanhedidanyoneelse，butthatisnotsayingagreatdeal。Hewasinmischiefinschooltwo-thirdsofthetime，andhisreports，madeoutbytheteacher，wereanythingbutcomplimentary。
　　Hewasagood-lookingboy，theimageofhismother，whohadbeenheruncle’sfavorite，andhewaspopularwithacertainclassofyoungsters。Also，andthiswasworse，hisworkattheliverystablehadthrownhimincontactwithacrowdofmenlike”Squealer”Wixon，”Web”Saunders，andothersoftheirclass，andtheyappreciatedhisNewYorkstreettrainingandmademuchofhim。
　　CaptainPerez，mindfulofhispromisetotheboy’smother，didnotusethenecessarymeasurestocontrolhim，andCaptainEriandCaptainJerrydidnotliketointerfere。
　　Justnowhewasseatedinthecorner，andhelookedupwithastart，hurriedlyfoldedupthetatteredpaperbookhewasreading，stuffeditintohispocket，andsaid，”What？””WhogiveyouthatletterthatcomeforElsie？””MissCahoonupattheoffice。Itwasinourbox，”saidtheboy。”Humph！Whatareyoureadin’that’ssointerestin’？””Oh，nothin’。Abook，that’sall。””Letmelookatit。”
　　Josiahhesitated，lookedasifhewouldliketorefuse，andthensullenlytooktheraggedvolumefromhispocketandhandedittotheCaptain，whodeliberatelyunfoldedit，andlookedatthecover。”’Fightin’FredStarlight，theBoyRoverofthePacific，’”hereadaloud。”Humph！Isitgood？””Betyourlife！It’sared-hotstory。””Iwanttoknow！WhowasMr。Moonshine——what’shisname——Starlight？””Hewasasailor，”wasthesulkyanswer。Josiahwasnofool，andknewwhenhewasbeingmadefunof。
　　TheCaptainopenedthebook，andreadapageortwotohimself。
　　Thenhesaid，”Iseeheknockedtheskipperdown’causeheinsultedhim。Nice，spunkychap；I’dliketohavehadhimaboardavesselofmine。Andhecalledtheoldmana’caitiffhound’？Awfulthingtocallafeller，thatis。I’llbetthatskipperfeltashamed。
　　Lookslikeagoodbook。I’llborrowitto-nighttoreadwhileyou’redoin’yourlessons。””Iain’tgotanylessonstodo。””Oh，ain’tyou？Ithoughtthatwasa’rithmeticoverthere。””Well，Iknow’emnow。Besides，youain’tgotanyrighttoordermearound。Youain’tmyuncle。Can’tIreadthatbook，UnclePerez？”
　　PoorPerez！Hehesitated，swallowedonceortwice，andanswered，”Youcanreaditafteryou’vestudiedaspell。You’lllethimhaveitthen，won’tyou，Eri？Nowstudy，likeagoodboy。”
　　CaptainErilookedasifhewouldliketosaysomethingfurther，butheevidentlythoughtbetterofit，andtossedthepapernovelacrosstoCaptainPerez，whoputitonthetable，saying，ratherfeebly:”Therenow，it’srightthere，whereyoucanhaveitsoon’syou’vel’arnedyourexamples。Nowpitchin，so’stheteachercanseehowsmartyouare。”
　　Hisnephewgrumblinglygothispaperandpencil，tookthearithmeticandwenttowork。Noonespokeforawhile，CaptainPereztwirlinghisthumbsandlooking，ashefelt，uncomfortable。
　　SoonJosiah，announcingthathisstudieswerecompleted，grabbedthenovelfromthetable，tookalampfromthekitchenandwentofftobed。WhenhehadgoneCaptainJerrysaid，”Perez，you’resp’ilin’thatboy。””Is’poseIam，Is’poseIam，butIcan’tbeartobecrosstohim，somehow。PoorLizzie，shemademepromiseIwouldn’tbe，andI
　　jestcan’t；that’sall。Youunderstandhow’tis，don’tyou，Eri？”
　　TheCaptainnodded。”Iunderstand，”hesaid。”I’msorryIsaidanything。Ihadn’toughttobegivin’orders’boutwhat’snoneofmyaffairs。Whattimeisitgittin’tobe？”
　　CaptainJerryannouncedthatitwasbedtime，andthathewasgoingtoturnin。Perez，stilllookingworriedandanxious，saidthathealsowasgoingtobed。CaptainErithoughtthathewouldsitupforawhile。
　　Anotherhourandstillanotherwentby，andtheCaptainsatthereinhisrocker。Histwofriendsweresoundasleep。Mrs。SnowcalledtwicefromtheheadofthestairstoknowifElsiehadcomeback，andwhereonearthshecouldbe。CaptainEri’sanswerswerecheeryandtotheeffectthattheyoungladyhadanerranduptown，andwouldbehomeprettysoon，heguessed。Nevertheless，itmighthavebeennoticedthatheglancedattheclockeveryfewminutes，andgrewmoreandmorefidgety。
　　ItwasafterelevenwhenElsiecamein。Shehurriedlyandwithsomeconfusionapologizedforbeingsolate，andthankedtheCaptainforsittingupforher。Shemadenooffertoexplainherlongabsenceand，asshewentupstairs，CaptainErinoticedthatherfacewas，ifanything，palerthanwhenshewentout，andhereyeslookedasifshehadbeencrying。Hewantedtoaskhersomequestions，butdidn’t，becausesheevidentlydidnotwishtotalk。
　　Heponderedoverthematterwhileundressing，andforalongtimeafterthatlayawakethinking。Thatthegirlwasintroubleofsomesortwasplain，buthecouldnotunderstandwhyshesaidnothingaboutit，orwhatitscausemightbe。Shehadbeenherbright，happyselfalldayandapartoftheevening。Thenshehadsuddenlychanged。TheCaptainwonderedwhatwasinthatletter。
　　CHAPTERXII
　　ALITTLEPOLITICS
　　Elsie，whenshecamedowntobreakfastnextmorning，wasquieterthanusual，andtothejokingquestionsofCaptainJerryandCaptainPerez，whowerecuriousconcerningher”errand”ofthepreviousevening，andwhopretendedtobelievethatshehadgonetoadanceor”time”withsome”feller”unknown，shegaveevasive，butgood-humoredreplies。CaptainEriwasonhisusualfishingtrip，andafterbreakfastwasoverPerezdepartedtotheBarryplace，andJerrytohisbelovedschoolhouse。Thesacrifice，whoseimpendingmatrimonialdoomhadnotbeenmentionedforsometimebythetriointerested，wasgraduallybecominghisowngarrulousself，andhisprincipaltopicofconversationrecentlyhadbeenthecomingmarriageofthe”upstairsteacher”——thatis，theladywhopresidedoverthegrammargradeoftheschool——andthequestionofherprobablesuccessor。Infact，thisquestionofwhothenewteacherwastobewastheprevailingsubjectofsurmiseandconjectureinthevillagejustthen。
　　WhenCaptainJerrycamebacktothehousehewentouttothebarntofeedLorenzoandthehens，andattendtoDaniel’stoilet。Hewasbusywiththecurry-combwhenElsiecamein。Sheseatedherselfonabox，andwatchedtheperformanceforawhilewithoutspeaking。TheCaptain，whotookthispartofhisdutiesveryseriously，wastoointentoncrimpingDaniel’sratherscraggyforelocktotalkmuch。AtlengthMissPrestonbrokethesilence。”CaptainJerry，”shesaid，”youhavenevertoldmejustwhereyoufoundgrandfatherthatnightwhenhewastakensick。Onthehillbackofthepost-office，wasn’tit？””Yes，jestonthetop。Yousee，he’dfelldownwhenhewasrunnin’
　　tothefire。””CaptainErifoundhim，didn’the？””Yep。Whoathere，Dan’l；standstill，can’tyou？Yes，Erifoundhim。””Howwashedressed？””Who？John？Oh，hewasbareheadedandinhisshirtsleeves，jestasherunoutdoorswhenheheardthebell。Queer，hedidn’tputonthatoldwhitehatofhis。Ineverknewhimtobewithoutitafore；butafeller’sli’bletoforgit’mostanythinganightlikethatwas。DidEritellyouhowPerezforgothisshoes？FunniestthingIeversee，thatwas。”
　　Hebeganthestoryofhisfriend’sabsent-mindedness，buthiscompaniondidnotseemtopaymuchattentiontoit。Infact，itwasevidentthatherthoughtsweresomewhereelse，forwhentheCaptainaskedheraquestionthatplainlycalledforanegative，shereplied”Yes，”verycalmly，anddidn’tseemtoknowthatshehadsaidit。ShewentintothehousesoonafterandCaptainJerry，afterconsideringthematter，decidedthatshewasprobablythinkingofHazeltine。Hederivedmuchcomfortfromtheidea。
　　Whenhe，too，enteredthediningroom，Elsiesaidtohim:”Oh，CaptainJerry！Pleasedon’ttelltheothersthatIaskedaboutgrandfather。TheywouldthinkthatIwasworrying，andI’mnot，abit。Youwon’tmentionit，willyou？Justpromise，topleaseme。”
　　SotheCaptainpromised，althoughhedidnotunderstandwhyitwasaskedofhim。
　　WhenCaptainEricamehomethatafternoon，andwascleaninghiscatchattheshanty，hewassurprisedtoreceiveacallfromMissPreston。”Hello！”heexclaimed。”Cometol’arnthetrade？”
　　Elsiesmiled，anddisclaimedanyintentionofapprenticeship。”CaptainEri，”shesaid，”Iwanttohaveatalkwithyou，abusinesstalk。”
　　TheCaptainlookedatherkeenly。Allhesaid，however，was，”Youdon’ttellme！””Yes，Iwanttotalkwithyouaboutgettingmeaposition。””Aposition？””Yes，I’vebeenthinkingagreatdeallately，and，nowthatgrandfatherseemstobealittlebetter，andI’mnotneededtohelptakecareofhim，Iwanttodosomethingtoearnmyliving。””Earnyourlivin’？Why，childalive，youdon’tneedtodothat。
　　Youain’tamiteoftroubleatthehouse；factis，Idon’tknowhowwe’dgetalongwithoutyou，and，asformoney，whyIcal’lateyourgrandpaain’tsopoorbutwhat，ifIletyouhavealittlechangeonceinawhile，he’dbeabletopaymeback，whenhegotbetter。””ButIdon’twanttouseyourmoneyorhiseither。CaptainEri，youdon’tknowwhathehasdoneformeeversinceIwasalittlegirl。Hehasclothedmeandgivenmeaneducation，andbeensokindandgoodthat，nowthatheisillandhelpless，Isimplycan’tgoonusinghismoney。Ican’t，andIwon’t。”
　　Thetearsstoodinthegirl’seyes，asshespoke，andtheCaptain，noticingheremotion，thoughtitbettertotreatthematterseriously，forthepresentatanyrate。”Allright，”hesaid。”’Independenceshowsapropersperitandsavesgrocerybills，’asoldmanScuddersaidwhenhiswiferunoffwiththetin-peddler。Whatkindofaplacewasyouthinkin’oftakin’？””Iwanttogettheappointmenttoteachinthegrammarschoolhere。
　　MissNixonisgoingtobemarried，andwhensheleavesIwantherplace——andIwantyoutohelpmegetit。”
　　CaptainEriwhistled。”Iwanttoknow！”heexclaimed。Thenhesaid，”Lookhere，Elsie，Idon’twantyoutothinkI’mtryin’tobecur’ous’boutyouraffairs，oranythinglikethat，butareyousurethereain’tsomereasonmore’nyou’vetoldmeofforyourwantin’
　　thisplace？Iain’tnorealrelationofyours，youunderstand，butIwouldliketohaveyoufeelthatyoucouldcometomewithyourtroublesjestthesameasyouwouldtoyourgrandpa。Now，honestandtrue，ain’ttheresomethin’backofthis？”
　　ItwasonlyforamomentthatElsiehesitated，butthatmoment’shesitationandthemannerinwhichsheansweredwentfartowardconfirmingtheCaptain’ssuspicions。”No，CaptainEri，”shesaid。”ItisjustasI’vetoldyou。I
　　don’twanttobedependentongrandfatheranylonger。””Andthereain’tasingleotherreasonfor——Ofcourse，Ioughttomindmybusiness，but——Well，there！whatwasityouwantedmetodo？Helpyougittheplace？””Yes，ifyouwill。IknowCaptainPerezhassaidthatyouwereinterestedinthetown-meetingsandhelpedtonominatesomeoftheselectmenandtheschool-committee，soIthoughtperhaps，ifyouusedyourinfluence，youmightgetthepositionforme。””Well，Idon’tknow。Ididdoalittleelectioneerin’foroneortwofellersandmaybethey’doughttobewillin’todosomethin’
　　forme。Still，youcan’tnevertell。Acat’lljumpoveryourhandsifsheknowsthere’sapieceoffishcomin’afterwards，butwhenshe’sswallowedthatfish，it’sadiff’rentjobaltogether。
　　Samewaywithapolitician。But，then，youletmethinkoveritforaspell，andp’rapsto-morrowwe’llsee。Youthinkitover，too。Maybeyou’llchangeyourmind。””No，Ishan’tchangemymind。I’meverandeversomuchobligedtoyou，though。”
　　Shestartedtowardthedoor，butturnedimpulsivelyandsaid，”Oh，CaptainEri，youdon’tthinkthatI’mungrateful，doyou？YounorCaptainPereznorCaptainJerrywon’tthinkthatIdonotappreciateallyourkindness？Youwon’tthinkthatI’mshirkingmyduty，orthatIdon’twanttohelptakecareofgrandfatheranylonger？Youwon’t？Promisemeyouwon’t。”
　　Shechokeddownasobassheaskedthequestion。
　　CaptainEriwasasmuchmovedasshewas。Hehastenedtoanswer。”No，no，no！”heexclaimed。”Coursewewon’tdonosuchthing。
　　Runrightalong，anddon’tthinkanotherwordaboutit。Waittillto-morrer。I’llhaveaplanfixeduptolandthatschool-committee，seeifIdon’t。”
　　Butallthateveningheworkedatthemodeloftheclipper，andtheexpressiononhisfaceashewhittledshowedthathewaspuzzled，andnotalittletroubled。
　　Hecamebackfromhisfishingnextdayalittleearlierthanusual，changedhisworking-clothesforhissecondbestsuit，harnessedDanielintothebuggy，andthencameintothehouse，andannouncedthathewasgoingovertotheNeckonanerrand，andifElsiewantedtogowithhim，heshouldbegladofhercompany。Asthiswasbutpartofapre-arrangedscheme，theyoungladydeclaredthataridewasjustwhatsheneeded。
　　CaptainErisaidbutlittle，astheydroveuptothe”mainroad”；
　　heseemedtobethinking。Elsie，too，wasveryquiet。Whentheyreachedthefruitandcandyshop，justaroundthecorner，theCaptainstoppedthehorse，gotdown，andwentin。Whenhecameouthehadahandfulofcigars。”Why，CaptainEri，”saidElsie，”Ididn’tknowthatyousmokedcigars。Ithoughtapipewasyourfavorite。””Well，gin’rallyspeakin’，’tis，”wastheanswer，”butI’melectioneerin’now，andpoliticswithoutcigarswouldbelikeachowderwithoutanyclams。Rumgoeswithsomekindofpolitics，butterbackerkindofchumsinwithallkinds。’Tain’talwayssafetojedgeacandidatebythekindofcigarshegivesoutneither；
　　I’vefoundthatout。”RemindsmeofafunnythingthatObedNickersontoldmeonetime。
　　ObedusedtobeinpoliticsagooddealupanddowntheCape，here，andhehadconsider’bleinfluence。’TwaswhenBradleyuptoFallRiverwasrunnin’forCongress。Theyhadakindofpow-wowinhisoffice——awholegangofdistrictleaders——andObedhewasoneof’em。Bradleywenttogitoutthecigar-box，and’twasempty，sohecalledintheboythatsweptoutandrunerrandsforhim，givetheyoungsteraten-dollarbill，andtoldhimtogodowntoaterbackerstorehandyandbuyanotherbox。Well，theboy，hewasanewonethatBradley’djesthired，seemedkindofsurprisedtothinkofanybody’sbein’sorecklessastobuyawholeboxofcigarsatonce，buthewentandprettysooncomebackwiththebox。”Theoldmantoldhimtoopenitandpass’emround。Well，everybodywaslookin’for’ardtoatreat，’causeBradleyhadthenameofsmokin’betterstuffthantheaverage；butwhentheylitupandgota-goin’，Obedsaidyoucouldseethatthegangwass’prisedandsomedisgusted。Theoldmandidn’ttakeoneatfust，buteverybodyelsepuffedaway，andthesmokeandsmellgotthicker’n’
　　thicker。Obedsaiditremindedhimofastableafiremore’nanythingelse。PrettysoonBradleybittheendofoneofthethingsandtouchedamatchtoit。Hepuffedtwice——Obedswears’twa’n’tmore’nthat——andthenheyelledfortheboy。”’FortheLord’ssake！’hesays，’where’dyougitthemcigars？’
　　Well，itcomeoutthattheboyhadn’ttoldwhothecigarswasfor，andhe’dboughtaboxofthekindhisbrotherthatworkedinthecottonmillsmoked。Obedsaidyou’doughttohaveseenBradley’sfacewhentheyoungsterhandedhimbacksevendollarsandseventy-
　　fivecentschange。”
　　TheyreachedthatpartofOrhamwhichiscalledtheNeck，andpulledupbeforeasmallbuildingbearingthesign”SolomonBangs，Attorney-at-Law，RealEstateandInsurance。”HeretheCaptainturnedtohiscompanionandasked，”Sureyouhaven’tchangedyourmind，Elsie？Youwantthatschool-teachin’job？””Ihaven’tchangedmymind，CaptainEri。””Well，Iwantedtobesure。IshouldhatetoaskSolBangsforanythingandthenhavetobackoutafterwards。Comeon，now。”
　　Mr。SolomanBangswasthechairmanoftheOrhamschool-committee。
　　Hewasashort，stoutmanwithsandyside-whiskersandabaldhead。
　　Hereceivedthemwithbecomingcondescension，andaskediftheywouldn’tsitdown。”Why，I’vegotalittlebus’nessIwanttotalkwithyou’bout，Sol，”saidtheCaptain。”Elsie，yousetdownhere，andmakeyourselfcomf’table，andSolandme’llgoinsideforaminute。”
　　Asheledthewayintothelittleprivateofficeatthebackofthebuilding，andseemedtotakeitforgrantedthatMr。Bangswouldfollow，thelattergentlemancouldn’twellrefuse。Theprivateofficewasusuallyreservedforinterviewswithwidowswhosehomesteadmortgagesweretobeforeclosed，guilelessindividualswhohadindorsednotesforfriends，orotherswhosebusinesswasunpleasantandlikelytobeaccompaniedwithweepingorprofanity。
　　Mr。Bangsdidn’tobjecttoforeclosingamortgage，buthedislikedtohaveaprospectivecustomerhearthedialoguethatprecededtheoperation。
　　OnthisoccasionthedoorofthesanctumwasleftajarsothatElsie，althoughshedidnottrytolisten，couldnotverywellhelphearingwhatwassaid。
　　SheheardtheCaptaincommentingonthelatecranberrycrop，theexceptionallypleasantweatherofthepastmonth，andotherirrelevantsubjects。Thentheperfumesofthecampaigncigarsfloatedoutthroughthedoorway。”Let’ssee，”saidCaptainEri，”when’stownmeetin’day？””FirstTuesdayinDecember，”repliedMr。Bangs。”Why，so’tis，so’tis。Gittin’prettynigh，ain’tit？Whatareyougoin’togitofftheschool-committeefor？””Me？Getoffthecommittee？Whotoldyouthat？””Why，Idon’tknow。Youare，ain’tyou？SeemstomeIheardSethWingatewasgoin’torunandhe’sfromyourdistrict，soIthought，ofcourse——””IsSethgoingtotryforthecommittee？””Seth’sagoodman，”wastheequivocalanswer。”Agoodman！Heain’tanybettermanthanIam。What’sheknowaboutschools，orhowtorun’em？””Well，he’sprettypopular。Folkslikehim。Seehere，Sol；what’sthis’boutyourturnin’BetsyGodfreyoffherplace？””WhosaidIturnedheroff？I’vebeencarryingthatmortgageforsolongit’sgray-headed。Ican’tbeSantaClausforthewholetown。Businessisbusiness，andI’vegottolookoutformyself。””Ye-es，Is’posethat’sso。Still，folkstalk，andSeth’sgotlotsoffriends。””Eri，Iain’tdenyingthatyoucoulddoaheaptohurtmeifyouwantedto，butIdon’tknowwhyyoushould。I’vealwaysbeensquarewithyou，far’sIknow。Whathaveyougotagainstme？””Oh，nuthin’，nuthin’！Didn’tIhearyouwastryin’togetthatHarnissteachertocomedownhereandtakeCarrieNixon’splacewhenshegotmarried？””Well，Ithoughtofher。She’sallnight，isn’tshe？””Yes，Is’posesheis。’TwouldbebetterifshelivedinOrham，maybe，andfolkscouldn’tsayyouwentoutoftownforateacherwhenyoucouldhavehadonerightfromhome。Then，she’ssomerelationofyourcousin，ain’tshe？’Course，that’sallright，but——well，youcan’tpayattentiontoeverythingthat’ssaid。””Couldhavegotonerightfromhome！Who’dweget？DaveEldredge’sgirl，Isuppose。Iheardshewasafterit。”
　　Theconversationthatfollowedwasinalowertone，andElsieheardbutlittleofit。Sheheardenough，however，toinferthatCaptainEriwasstillthedisinterestedfriend，andthatSolomonwasveryanxioustoretainthatfriendship。Afterawhilethestrikingofmatchesindicatedthatfreshcigarswerebeinglighted，andthenthepairrosefromtheirchairs，andenteredtheouteroffice。Mr。
　　Bangswasverygracious，exceedinglyso。”MissPreston，”hesaid，”Cap’nHedgetellsmethatit——er——mightbepossibleforus——er——forthetowntosecure——er——to——inshort，forustohaveyouforourteacherintheupstairsroom。Itain’tnecessaryformetosaythat——er——ateacherfromRadcliffedon’tcomeourwayveryoften，andthatwe——thatis，thetownofOrham，would——er——feelitselfluckyifyou’dbewillingtocome。””Ofcourse，Itoldhim，Elsie，”saidCaptainEri，”thatyouwouldn’tthinkofcomin’forforty-fivedollarsamonthoranythinglikethat。Ofcourse，’tisn’tasthoughyoureallyneededtheplace。””Iunderstand，Iunderstand，”saidthepompouscommitteeman。”I
　　thinkthatcanbearranged。Ireallythink——er——MissPreston，thatthereain’tanyreasonwhyyoucan’tconsideritsettled。Ahem！”
　　Elsiethankedhim，tryingherbestnottosmile，andtheywerebowedoutbythegreatman，who，however，calledtheCaptaintooneside，andwhisperedeagerlytohimforamomentortwo。Theword”Seth”wasmentionedatleastonce。”Why，CaptainEri！”exclaimedElsie，astheydroveaway。
　　TheCaptaingrinned。”Didn’tknowIwassuchaheeler，didyou？”
　　hesaid。”Well，Itellyou。Ifyou’refishin’foreelsthereain’tnouseusin’amack’reljig。Sol，he’salittlemiteeely，andyou’vegottousethekindofbaitthat’llfetchthatsortofcritter。””ButIshouldn’tthinkhewouldcarewhetherhewasontheschool-
　　committeeornot。Itisn’tsuchanexaltedposition。”
　　CaptainEri’sanswerwasintheformofaparable。”OldLabanSimpkinsthatlived’roundhereonetime，”hesaid，”wasamightyhardticket。Drankrumbythehogshead，poundedhiswifetillshelefthim，andwasatoughnutgin’rally。Well，oneevenin’Labewascomin’homeprettyhow-come-you-so，andhefellintoJonadabWixon’swell。Wonderhewa’n’tkilled，buthewa’n’t，andtheyfishedhimoutinalittlewhile。Hesaidthatwasthedeepestwellheeversaw；saidhebeguntothinkitreachedclearthroughtothehereafter，andwhenhestruckthewaterhewass’prisedtofinditwa’n’thot。Hej’inedthechurchthenextweek，andsomebodyaskedhimifhethoughtreligionwouldkeephimfromfallin’intoanymorewells。Hesaidno；saidhewaslookin’outforsomethin’furtheron。”Well，that’stheway’tiswithSol。School-committee’sallright，butthissectionoftheCapenominatesaStaterepresentativenextyear。”Imustn’tforgittoseeSeth，”headded。”IpromisedIwould，andbesides，”withawink，”Ithink’twouldbebettertodoit’cause，betweenyouandme，Idon’tb’lieveSethknowsthathe’sbeenthinkin’ofrunnin’forthecommitteeandhasdecidednotto。”
　　Thesecondmemberoftheschoolboard，JohnMullett，was，sotheCaptainsaid，asortof”metoo”toMr。Bangs，andwouldvoteashisfrienddirected。ThethirdmemberwasMr。Langworthy，theBaptistministerand，althoughtwotoonewasaclearmajority，CaptainEriassertedthattherewasnothinglikeaunanimousvote，andsotheydecidedtocalluponthereverendgentleman。
　　Theyfoundhimathome，andElsiewassurprised，afterthepreviousinterview，toseehowdifferentlyherchampionhandledthecase。
　　Therewasnopreliminaryparleyandnobeatingaboutthebush。
　　MissPreston’sclaimtothesoon-to-be-vacantpositionwasstatedclearlyandwithvigor。Alsothereasonswhysheshouldreceiveahighersalarythanhadpreviouslybeenpaidweresetforth。ItwassomethingofasurprisetoElsie，asithadbeentoRalph，toseehowhighlythetowns-people，thatis，therespectableportionofthem，seemedtovaluetheopinionsofthisgood-naturedbutuneducatedseaman。Andyetwhensheconsideredthatshe，too，wenttohimforadvicethatshewouldnothaveaskedofotherandfarmorelearnedacquaintances，itdidnotseemsosurprisingafterall。
　　Theclergymanhadhadseveralcandidatesinmind，buthewaseasilywonovertoElsie’sside，partlybytheCaptain’sargument，andpartlybecausehewasfavorablyimpressedbytheyounglady’sappearanceandmanner。Heexpressedhimselfasbeingconvincedthatshewouldbeexactlythesortofteacherthattheschoolrequiredandpledgedhisvoteunconditionally。
　　Andso，asCaptainErisaid，thestump-speakingbeingover，therewasnothingtodobuttowaitfortheelection，andElsieandheagreedtokeeptheaffairasecretuntilshereceivedformalnoticeoftheappointment。Thiswasundoubtedlyagoodplan，but，unfortunatelyforitssuccess，SolomonBangscalleduponhisfellowinthecommittee，Mr。Mullett，toinformthelatterthathe，entirelyunaided，haddiscoveredtheveryteacherthatOrhamneededinthepersonofJohnBaxter’sgranddaughter。Mr。Mullett，livinguptohis”metoo”reputation，indorsedtheselectionwithenthusiasm，andnotonlydidthat，butalsotoldeveryonehemet，sothatCaptainPerezheardofitatthepost-officetheverynextafternoon。
　　ThenaturalsurpriseofthisgentlemanandofCaptainJerryattheirguest’ssuddendeterminationwasmetbyplausibleexplanationsfromCaptainEri，totheeffectthatElsiewasasmartgirl，anddidn’tliketobe”hangin’’rounddoin’nothin’，nowthathergrandpawassomebetter。”Elsie’sownreason，asexpressedtothem，beingjustthis，thepairaccepteditwithoutfurtherquestioning。
　　Neitherofthemattachedmuchimportancetotheletterwhichshehadreceived，althoughCaptainPerezdidaskMrs。Snowifsheknewfromwhomitcame。
　　TheladyfromNantucketwasnotsoeasilysatisfied。AtherfirstopportunityshecorneredCaptainEri，andtheydiscussedthewholeaffairfrombeginningtoend。Therewasnothingunusualinthisproceeding，fordiscussionsconcerninghouseholdmattersandquestionsofdomesticpolicywere，betweenthesetwo，gettingtobemoreandmorefrequent。Mrs。Snowwasnowacceptedbyallasoneofthefamily，andCaptainErihadcometoholdahighopinionofherandherviews。Whathelikedabouther，hesaid，washer”goodold-fashionedcommon-sense，”and，whereashehadformerlytrustedtohisownshareofthisvirtuealmostaltogether，nowhewasgladtohaveherstohelpout。
　　Themarriageidea，thatwhichhadbroughtthehousekeepertoOrham，wasnowseldommentioned。Infact，CaptainErihadalmostentirelyceasedtoruffleJerry’sfeelingswithreferencetoit。Mrs。Snow，ofcourse，saidnothingaboutit。But，forthatmatter，shesaidverylittleaboutherselforheraffairs。
　　ItwasacuriousfactthattheladyfromNantuckethadneverreferred，exceptinacasualway，toherpasthistory。ShehadnevertoldhowshecametoanswertheadvertisementintheNuptialChime，nortoexplainhowsomatter-of-factapersonasshewashadeverseenthatfamoussheet。Asshesaidnothingconcerningthesethings，noonefeltatlibertytoinquire，and，inthecourseoftime，evenCaptainPerez’livelycuriosityhadlapsedintoatrance。
　　Mrs。SnowwascertainthatElsie’sreasonforwishingtoobtainthepositionofschool-teacherwassomethingmorespecificthantheoneadvanced。Shewasalsocertainthatthegirlwastroubledaboutsomething。Therootofthematter，shebelieved，wascontainedinthemysteriousletter。AsCaptainEriwasofpreciselythesameopinion，speculationbetweenthetwoastowhatthatlettermighthavecontainedwasaslivelyasitwasunfruitful。
　　Onethingwascertain，Elsiewasnotasshehadformerlybeen。Shedidherbesttoappearthesame，butshewasmuchmorequiet，andhadfitsofabsentmindednessthattheCaptainandthehousekeepernoticed。Shehadnomoreevening”errands，”butsheoccasionallytooklongwalksintheafternoons，andonthesewalkssheevidentlypreferredtobealone。
　　WhetherMr。Hazeltinenoticedthischangeinherwasaquestion。
　　TheCaptainthoughthedid，butatanyrate，hiscallswerenonethelessfrequent，andheshowednomarkedobjectionwhenCaptainJerry，whonowconsideredhimselfboundinhonortobringabouttheunionhehadsoactivelychampioned，broughttobearhisartfulschemesforleavingtheyoungfolksalone。ThesedevicesweresoapparentthatElsiehadmorethanoncebetrayedsomesymptomsofannoyance，allofwhichwerelostonthezealousmatch-maker。
　　Ralph，liketheothers，wasmuchsurprisedatMissPreston’sapplicationforemployment，but，asitwasmanifestlynoneofhisbusiness，he，ofcourse，saidnothing。
　　AtthenextcommitteemeetingElsiewasunanimouslychosentofillMissNixon’sshoesastraineroftheyoungideaatthegrammarschool，and，asMissNixonwasveryanxioustoberidofherresponsibilitiesinorderthatshemightbecomethecarefreebrideofawidowerwithtwosmallchildren，theshoe-fillingtookplaceinafortnight。
　　Fromherfirstday’slaborsElsiereturnedcalmandunruffled。Shehadmettheusualsmallrebellionagainstanewteacher，andhadconqueredit。Shesaidshebelievedshehadagoodclassandsheshouldgetonwiththemverynicely。Itshouldbementionedinpassing，however，thatJosiahBartlett，usuallythering-leaderinallsortsoftrouble，wasatrifleupsetbecausethenewschoolmistresslivedinthesamehousewithhim，andsohadnotyetdecidedjusthowfaritwassafetogointrespassingagainstlawandorder。
　　Thanksgivingdaycame，andtheCaptainsentertainedMissPatienceDavisandherbrotherandRalphHazeltineatdinner。Thatdinnerwasanevent。CaptainEriandMrs。Snowspentafulltwentyminuteswiththedriverofthebutcher’scart，givinghimdirectionsconcerningtheexactbreedofturkeythatwastobedelivered，andapparentlytheseorderswereeffectual，forCaptainLuther，whowasobligedtohurrybacktothelife-savingstationassoonasdinnerwasover，saidthathewassofullofwhitemeatandstuffingthathecal’latedheshould”gobble”allthewaytothebeach。Hissisterstayeduntilthenextday，andthiswasverypleasingtoallhands，particularlyCaptainPerez。
　　Theyhadgamesintheevening，andherethecaptainsdistinguishedthemselves。SethWingateandhiswife，andMr。andMrs。ObedNickersoncamein，asdidseveralotherretiredmarinersandtheirbetter-halves。ObedbroughthisfiddleandsatinthecornerandplayedthemusicforaVirginiareel，andRalphlaugheduntilhechokedtoseeCaptainJerry——halfofhisshirt-collartornloosefromthebuttonandflappinglikeasail——convoystoutMrs。Wingatefromoneendofthelinetotheother，throwingintotheperformanceallthefancy”cuts”and”double-shuffles”helearnedattheThanksgivingballsofagoodmanyyearsbefore。CaptainPerezdancedwithMissPatience，whoassuredhimshehadneverhadsuchagoodtimesinceshewasborn。TheonlyscofferwastheboredJosiah，who，beingasophisticatedNewYorker，satinthebestchairandgazedcontemptuouslyupontheentireproceeding。Hetold”Web”
　　Saundersthenextdaythatheneversawsuchagangof”crazyjays”
　　inhislife。
　　EvenJohnBaxterwasbetterthatday。Heseemedatriflemorerational，andapparentlyunderstoodwhentheytoldhimthatitwasThanksgiving。TherewouldhavebeennocloudanywherehadnotMrs。
　　Snow，enteringherroomafterElsiehadgonetobed，foundthatyoungladyawakeandcryingsilently。”Andshewouldn’ttellwhatthetroublewas，”saidthehousekeepertoCaptainEri，thenextday。”Saiditwasnothin’；shewaskindofworried’bouthergrandpa。Now，youandmeknowitwa’n’tTHAT。
　　IwishtogoodnessweknewWHATitwas。”
　　TheCaptainscratchedhisnosewithaperplexedair。”There’sonefellerI’dliketohaveatalkwithjest’boutnow，”hesaid；”that’stheonethatinventedthatyarn’boutawoman’snotbein’
　　abletokeepasecret。”
　　CHAPTERXIII
　　CAPTAINJERRYMAKESAMESSOFIT
　　ItwasduringtheweekthatfollowedtheholidaysogloriouslycelebratedthatCaptainJerrymadeamessofit，andallwiththebestintentionsintheworld。Elsiehadhadaharddayattheschool，principallyowingtotheperversityoftheirrepressibleJosiah，whoselovefordeviltrywasgettingthebetterofhisrespectforthenewteacher。TheboyhaddiscoveredthatElsieneverreportedhisbadconducttoCaptainPerez，and，therefore，thatthesituationwasnotgreatlydifferentfromwhatithadbeenduringthereignofMissNixon。
　　Onthisparticulardayhehadbeenalittleworsethanusual，and，asuneasinessandmischiefinaschoolroomareascatchingasthechickenpox，Elsiecamehometiredandnervous。CaptainEriandMrs。Snowwerecertainthatthisincreasingnervousnessonthepartoftheirguestwasnotduetoschooltroublesalone，but，atanyrate，nervousshewas，andparticularlynervous，and，itmustbeconfessed，somewhatinclinedtobeirritable，duringthesupperandafterward，onthisill-starrednight。
　　ThebeginningofthetroublewaswhenRalphHazeltinecalled。
　　Mrs。Snowwaswithherpatientintheupperroom，CaptainEriwasout，andCaptainPerezandCaptainJerrywerewithElsieinthediningroom。Theelectricianwasmadewelcomebythetrio——moreespeciallybythecaptains，forMissPrestonwasinnomoodtobeover-effusive——andafewminutesofgeneralconversationfollowed。
　　ThenCaptainJerry，inaccordancewithhisplanofcampaign，laiddownhisnewspaper，coughedemphaticallytoattracttheattentionofhispartner，andsaid，”Well，IguessI’llgooutandlookattheweatherforaspell。Comeon，Perez。””Why，CaptainJerry！”exclaimedElsie，”youwereoutlookingattheweatheronlytenminutesago。Idon’tthinkithaschangedmuchsincethen。Whydon’tyoustayhereandkeepuscompany？””Oh，youcan’tnevertellabouttheweather’longthiscoast。It’slikelytochangemostanytime。Besides，”withawinkthatexpressedcomprehensionunlimited，”IreckonyouandMr。Hazeltinedon’tcaremuch’boutthecompanyofoldfogieslikemeandPerez。
　　Two’scompanyandthree’sacrowd，youknow。Ho，ho，ho！””CaptainJerry，comebackthisminute！”
　　ButtheCaptainchuckledandshookoutofthedoor，followedbytheobedientPerez，who，havingpledgedfealty，stucktohiscolorswhatevermighthappen。
　　Atanothertime，Elsiewouldprobablyhaveappreciatedandenjoyedthejokeasmuchasanyone，butthiseveningitdidnotappealtoherintheleast。Ralphputinaveryuncomfortablehalf-hour，andthencuthisvisitshortanddeparted。Itwasrathersharpandchillyoutside，butthebreezefeltlikeabreathfromthetropicscomparedwiththeatmosphereofthatdiningroom。
　　ItcertainlywasCaptainJerry’sunluckyevening，forheleftPerezchattingwithafishermanfriend，whohadleftafavoritepipeinhisshantyandhadcomedowntogetit，andenteredthehousealone。Hehadseentheelectriciango，andwassurprisedatthebrevityofhiscall，buthewasasfarfromsuspectingthathehimselfwastheindirectcauseofthesaidbrevityasamortalcouldbe。
　　Hecameintothediningroom，hunghiscaponthebackofachair，andremarkedcheerfully，”Well，Elsie，whatdidyousendyourcompanyhomesoquickfor？Landsake！twelveo’clockwa’n’tnonetoolateformewhenIwasyoungandgoin’roundtoseethegirls。”
　　ButMissPrestondidnotsmile。Onthecontrary，shefrowned，andwhenshespoketheCaptainhadavaguefeelingthatsomeonehaddroppedanicicleinsidehisshirtcollar。”CaptainJerry，”saidtheyounglady，”Iwanttohaveatalkwithyou。WhydoyouthinkitnecessarytogetupandleavetheroomwheneverMr。Hazeltinecalls？Youdoiteverytime，andto-nightwasnoexception，exceptthatbywhatyousaidyoumademeappearalittlemoreridiculousthanusual。Now，whydoyoudoit？”
　　TheCaptain’sjawfell。Hestaredathisquestionertoseeifshewasnotjoking，but，findingnoencouragementofthatkind，stammered，”WhydoIdoit？Why？””Yes，why？””Why，’causeIthoughtyouwantedmeto。””_I_wantedyouto！Whyshouldyouthinkthat，please？””Well，Idon’tknow。Ithoughtyoutwowouldrutherbealone。I
　　know，whenIusedtogotoseemywife’forewewasmarried，I——””Please，whathasthatgottodowithMr。Hazeltine’svisitshere？””Why，why，nothin’，Is’pose，ifyousayso。Ijestthought——””WhatrighthaveyoutosupposethatMr。Hazeltineiscallingonmemorethananyotherpersonorpersonsinthishouse？”
　　Thiswassomethingofaposer，buttheCaptaindidhisbest。Hesatontheedgeofachairandrubbedhisknee，andthenblurtedout，”Well，Is’poseI——thatis，wethoughthewas，jest’causehenat’rallywould；that’s’boutall。IfI’dthought——why，seehere，Elsie，don’tYOUthinkhe’scomin’toseeyou？”
　　Thiswasareturnthrustthatwashardtoparry，but，althoughtheyounglady’scolorheightenedjustabit，sheansweredwithoutmuchhesitation:”Idon’tknowthatIdo。Atanyrate，Ihavegivenyounoauthoritytoactonanysuchassumption，andIDON’Twantyoutoputmeagainintheridiculouspositionyoudidthisevening，andasyouhavedonesooftenbefore。Why，hisvisitsmightbeperfecttorturetome，andstillIshouldhavetoendurethemoutofcommonpoliteness。Icouldn’tgoawayandleavehimalone。”
　　CaptainJerry’sfacewasastudyofchagrinandtroubledrepentance。”Elsie，”hesaid，”I’mawfulsorry；Iamso。IfI’dthoughtIwastorturin’ofyou，’steadofmakin’itpleasant，I’dneverhavedoneit，sure。Iwon’tgooutagain；Iwon’t，honest。Ihopeyouwon’tlayitupagainstme。Imeantwell。”
　　Now，ifCaptainPerezhaddelayedhisentrancetothatdiningroomonlytwoorthreeminuteslonger，ifhehadnotcomeinjustintimetopreventElsie’smakingtheexplanatoryandsoothinganswerthatwasonhertongue，eventswouldprobablyhavebeenentirelydifferent，andagooddealoftroublemighthavebeensaved。Butinhecame，asifsomeperverseimphadbeenwaitingtogivehimthesignal，andtheinterviewbetweenCaptainJerryandtheyoungladywhomhehadunwittinglyoffendedbrokeoffthenandthere。
　　Elsiewentupstairsfeelingalittleconscience-stricken，andwithanuneasyideathatshehadsaidmorethansheshouldhave。
　　CaptainPereztookupthenewspaperandsatdowntoread。AsforCaptainJerry，hesatdown，too，butmerelytogethisthoughtsassortedintoanarrangementlesslikeaspilledboxofjackstraws。
　　TheCaptain’swonderfulscheme，thathehadboastedofandworkedsohardfor，hadfallentoearthlikeanexplodedairship，andwhenithitithurt。
　　Hisfirstideawastofollowtheusualprocedure，andtakethewholemattertoCaptainEriforsettlement，butthemoreheconsideredthisplanthelesshelikedit。CaptainEriwasanunmercifultease，andhewouldbesureto”rubitin，”inawaythemerethoughtofwhichmadehisfriendsquirm。Therewasn’tmuchuseinconfidingtoCaptainPerez，either。Hemustkeepthesecretandpretendthateverythingwasworkingsmoothly。
　　ThenhisthoughtsturnedtoHazeltine，andwhenheconsideredthewronghehaddonethatyoungman，hesquirmedagain。Therewasn’tadoubtinhismindthatRalphfeltexactlyasElsiedidabouthisinterference。CaptainJerrydecidedthatheowedtheelectriciananapology，anddeterminedtoofferitatthefirstopportunity。
　　Andtheopportunitycametheverynextmorning，forMrs。Snowwantedsomeclamsfordinner，andaskedhimtodigsomeforher。
　　Thebestclamsinthevicinitywerethoseintheflatacrossthebaynearthecablestation，andtheCaptaintookhisbucketandhoeandrowedoverthere。Ashewasdigging，Ralphcamestrollingdowntotheshore。
　　Mr。Hazeltine’s”Good-morning”wasclearandhearty。CaptainJerry’swashesitatingandformal。Thetalkthatfollowedwasratherone-sided。Finally，theCaptainlaiddownhishoe，andcamesplashingovertowherehisfriendwasstanding。”Mr。Hazeltine，”hesaidconfusedly，”IkindoffeelasifIoughttobegyourpardon。I’mawfulsorryIdonewhatIdid，but，asI
　　saidtoElsie，Imeantwell，andI’msorry。””Sorry？Sorryforwhat？””Why，forleavin’youandheralonesowhenyoucometothehouse。
　　Yousee，Ineverthoughtbutwhatyou’dbothlikeit，and’twa’n’ttillsherakedmeoverthecoalssofordoin’itthatIrealizedhowthingswas。””Rakedyouoverthecoals？I’mafraidIdon’tunderstand。”
　　Itisunnecessarytorepeatthewholeofthelongandtangledconversationthatensued。TheCaptaintriedtoexplain，tumbleddown，metaphoricallyspeaking，gotupagain，andstartedoffonanothertack。Inhisanxietytomakehispositionperfectlyclear，hequotedfromElsie’sremarksofthepreviousevening，andthen，thinkingperhapshehadgonetoofar，triedtosmooththeseoverbymoreexplanations。Repeatingthisprocessseveraltimesgothimintosuchasnarlthathescarcelyknewwhathewassaying。WhentheagonywasoverRalphhadreceivedtheimpressionthatMissPrestonhadsaidhisvisitswereaperfecttorturetoher，thatsheobjectedtobeingleftalonewithhim，thatsheheldCaptainJerryresponsibleforthesethings，andthatthelatterwassorryforsomethingorother，thoughwhatitwashe，Ralph，didn’tknoworcareparticularly。TotheCaptain’scontinuedapologieshemutteredabsentlythatitwas”allright，”andwalkedslowlyawaywithhishandsinhispockets。CaptainJerrywasrelievedbythisexpressionofforgiveness。Hefeltthatthesituationwasn’twhathewouldliketohaveit，but，atanyrate，hehaddonehisduty。
　　Thiswasagreatconsolation。
　　Ralphdidn’tcallthateveningorthenext。WhenhediddropinitwasmerelytoinquireconcerningJohnBaxter’sprogress，andtochatforamomentwiththecaptains。Hisnextvisitwasaweeklater，andwasjustasbriefandformal。
　　IfElsienoticedthissuddenchangeshesaidnothing。Theremighthavebeensomecommentbytheothers，hadnotanewsensationsooccupiedtheirmindsastoshutouteverythingelse。ThissensationwascausedbyJosiahBartlett，whoranawayonenight，withhisbelongingstiedupinabrownpaperparcel，leavinganotesayingthathehadgonetoenlistintheNavyandwasn’tcomingbackanymore。
　　Therewerelivelytimesthenextmorningwhenthenotewasfound。
　　CaptainPerezwasforharnessingupimmediatelyandstartingofftofindthelostone，hitormiss。CaptainErisoonshowedhimthefollyofthisproceedingand，instead，hurriedtotherailwaystationandsentatelegramdescribingthefugitivetotheconductoroftheBostontrain。ItcaughttheconductoratSandwich，andthelocalconstableatBuzzard’sBaycaughttheboy。
　　Josiahwasluxuriouslypuffingafive-centcigarinthesmokingcar，anditwasacrest-fallenandhumiliatedprodigalthat，accompaniedbytheafore-mentionedconstable，returnedtoOrhamthatnight。
　　Butthestubbornnessremained，andthenextdayPerezsoughtCaptainEriinatroubledframeofmind。”Eri，”hesaiddejectedly，”Idon’tknowwhatI’mgoin’todowiththatboy。He’stoomanyforME，thatboyis。Seemshe’sbeenplannin’thisrunnin’awaybus’nessformore’namonth；beendoin’
　　errandsandoddjobs’roundtownandsavin’uphismoneyonpurpose。Sayshewon’tgobacktoschoolagain，nomatterwhatwedotohim，andthathe’sgoin’togitintotheNavyifittakestenyear。Hesayshe’llrunawayagainfustchancehegits，andheWILL，too。He’sgotthesperitoftheOldScratchinhim，andI
　　can’tgititout。I’mcleandiscouragedandworeout，andIknowthathe’lldosomethin’prettysoonthat’lldisgraceusall。””Humph！”exclaimedhisfriend。”Stuffyasallthat，ishe？Youdon’tsay！Heain’tabadboy，thatisaREELbadboy，either。””No，that’sjestit。Heain’treelbad——yit。Buthewillbeifheain’tfetchedupprettysudden。’Course，Iknowwhatheneedsistobemadetomindfust，andthenpreachedtoafterwards。AndI
　　knowthatnat’rallyI’mtheonethatoughttodoit，butIjestcan’t——there！IfIshouldstartouttogivehimthedressin’downheneeds，I’dbethinkin’ofhismothereveryminute，andhowI
　　promisedtotreathimgentleandnotbecrosstohim。ButSOMETHIN’Sgottobedone，andifyoucanhelpmeoutanywayI’llneverforgitit，Eri。”
　　CaptainEriscratchedhischin。”Humph！”hegruntedreflectively。”Hecouldn’tgitintotheNavy，he’stooyoung。Morelikelytobeastowawayonamerchantmanandthenroustaboutonacattleboat，orsomesuchthing。Evenifhelied’bouthisageanddidgittobeasortofaship’sboyonasailin’vessel，youandmeknowwhatthatmeansnowadays。Ipresumelikely’twouldendinhisbein’
　　killedinsomerumshopscrimmagelateron。Let——me——see。Boundtobeasailor，ishe？””He’sdeadsotonit。””Morefoolhe。Comesfromreadin’themridic’lousstorybooks，I
　　s’pose。Heain’tbeenonthewatermuchsencehe’sbeendownhere，hashe？””Notmore’nonceortwice，exceptinadorygoin’tothebeach，orsomethin’likethat。””That’sso，that’swhatIthought。Well，Perez，I’lltellyou。
　　Theboydoesneedbreakin’in，that’safact，andIthinkmaybeI
　　coulddoit。Icoulduseayoungfelleronmyboat；togocoddin’
　　withme，Imean。Letmehavetheboyunderme——nomeddlin’fromanybody——foracoupleofmonths。Lethimsignreg’lararticlesandship’longofmeforthattime。MaybeIcouldmakeawhitemanofhim。””Idon’tb’lievehe’ddoit。””Ical’lateIcouldtalkhimintoit。There’ssomebutteronmytonguewhenit’snecessary。””You’dhavetopromisenottolayahandonhiminanger。That’swhatIpromisedhismother。””Allright，Ipromiseitnow。That’sallright，Perez。Youandmeareoldshipmates，andboundtohelpeachotherout。Justtrusthimtome，anddon’tasktoomanyquestions。Isitatrade？Good！
　　Shake。”
　　Theyshookhandsonit，andthenCaptainEriwentintotalktotheunreconciledrunaway。Thatyounggentleman，freshfromhistriumphoverhisuncle，atfirstrefusedtohaveanythingtodowiththescheme。Hewasn’tgoingtobea”cheapguyfisherman，”hewasgoingintotheNavy。TheCaptaindidnotattempttourgehim，neitherdidhepreachorpatronize。Hesimplyleanedbackintherockerandbeganspinningsailoryarns。Hetoldofallsortsofadventuresinallclimates，andwithallsortsofpeople。Hehadseeneverythingunderthesun，apparently，and，accordingtohim，therewasnolifesofreeandvoidofallrestraintasthatofanableseamanonamerchantship，or，preferably，onafisherman；butonepointhemadeclear，andthatwasthat，unlesstheapplicanthadhadprevioustraining，hislotwaslikelytobeanunhappyone。”Ofcourse，”hesaid，asherosetogo，”itwasmyideatosortoftrainyouupso’syoucouldbereadywhen’twastimetoship，butlong’syoudon’twantto，whyit’salloff。””I’llgowithyou，Cap！”saidJosiah，whoseeyeswereshining。”Good！That’sthetalk！Youmightaswellsignarticlesrightaway。WaittillIgit’emready。”
　　Hebroughtpen，ink，andpaper，andproceededtoinditeaformidabledocumenttotheeffectthat”JosiahBartlett，ableseaman，”wastoshipaboardthecatboatMaryEllenforatermoftwomonths。Wages，fivedollarsamonth。”Yousee，”hesaid，”I’veputyoudownasableseaman’causethat’swhatyou’llbewhenIgitthroughwithyou。Nowsign。”
　　SoJosiahsigned，andthenCaptainEriaffixedhisownsignaturewithaflourish。”There！”exclaimedtheCaptain，bringinghisbigpalmdownonthebackofthe”ableseaman”withathumpthatbroughtwaterintotheeyesofthatproudyouth，”You’remyman，shipmate。Wesailto-
　　morrermornin’atfour，rainorshine。I’llcallyouatquarterof。Beready。””Youbet，oldman！”saidJosiah。
　　CaptainPerezmethisfriendastheycameoutoftheparlor。”Now，Eri，”hewhispered，”beeasyasyoucanwithhim，won’tyou？”
　　TheCaptainansweredintheverywordsofhiscrew。”Youbet！”hesaidfervently，andwentawaywhistling。CaptainPerezsleptbetterthatnight。
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　THEVOYAGEOFAN”ABLESEAMAN”
　　PromptlyataquartertofourthenextmorningCaptainErirappedontheparlordoor。Josiah，whohadbeendressedsincethree，appearedalmostinstantly。Theywalkeddowntotheshoretogether，andtheCaptain’seyestwinkledashenotedtheelaboraterollintheboy’swalk。
　　TheMaryEllenwasanchoredbetweenthebeaches，andtheyrowedofftoherinadory。Itwaspitch-dark，andcoldandraw。Lanternsshowedontwoorthreeoftheotherboatsnearby，and，asJosiahandtheCaptainpulleduptheeelgrass-coveredanchor，adimshapeglidedpastintheblackness。ItwastheYouandI，boundout。
　　IraSparrowwasatthehelm，andhehailedtheMaryEllen，sayingsomethingabouttheweather。”It’llbekindofca’mforaspell，”repliedCaptainEri，”butI
　　wouldn’twonderifwehadsomewind’forenight。Hereyou，fo’masthand，”headded，turningtoJosiah，”standbytogitthecanvasonher。”
　　Themainsailwassoonhoisted，andthecatboatmovedslowlyoutofthebay。”Gee！it’sdark，”exclaimedJosiah。”whatareyougoin’wayoffherefor？Whydon’tyougostraightout？””Igin’rallytaketheshortcutthroughthenarrers，”repliedtheCaptain，”butIthoughtyoumightn’tlikethebreakersontheshoals，soI’mgoin’’roundthep’intflat。””Huh！Iain’ta-scaredofbreakers。Can’tbetooroughforme。
　　Wisht’twouldblowtobeattheband。””Maybe’twillbyandby。Prettytoler’bleslicknow，though。”
　　Itwasaftersunrisewhentheyreachedtheledgewherecodfishmostdocongregate。Thelandwasamereyellowstreakonthehorizon。
　　Thestiffeasterlyblowofthedaybeforehadleftasmooth，heavyswellthat，trippingoverthesubmergedledge，alternatelytossedtheMaryEllenhighinairanddroppedhertowardthebottom。Itwascold，andthenewlyrisenDecembersundidnotseemtohavemuchwarmthinit。Anchorovertheside，theCaptainproposedbreakfast。
　　The”ableseaman”didnotfeelveryhungry，buthemanagedtoswallowahard-boiledeggandasandwich，andthen，justtoshowthathehadreachedthedignityofmanhood，leanedbackagainstthesideofthecockpit，litacigarette，andobservedcheerfully，”Thisishotstuff，ain’tit，Cap？”
　　CaptainEriwipedthecrumbsfromhismouth，leisurelyproducedhispipe，andproceededtofillitwithtobaccoshavedfromachunkyplug。”Whatd’yousmokethemthingsfor？”heaskedcontemptuously，referringtothecigarette。”Nobodybutdudesandsissiessmokethatkindoftruck。Here，takethispipe，andsmokelikeaman。”
　　Josiahlookedaskanceattheprofferedpipe。”Oh，no！”hesaidmagnanimously，”you’llwantityourself。I’llgetalongwiththesethingstillIgitashore；thenI’llbuyapipeofmyown。””Neveryoumind’boutme。I’vegottwoorthreemorebelowthere，some’eres。Takeitandlightup。”
　　The”ableseaman”tookthereeking，nicotinesoakedaffair，placeditgingerlybetweenhisteeth，heldamatchtothebowlandcoughinglyemittedacloudofill-smellingsmoke。Thepipewheezedandgurgled，andtheMaryEllenrockedandrolled。”Now，then，”saidCaptainEri，”we’vesojeredlongenough。Gobelow，andbringupthebaitbucketandthelines。”
　　Josiahstaggeredintothelittlecabin，reappearedwiththeheavycodlinesandthebucketofmussels，andwatchedwhiletheCaptain”baitedup。””Allready！”saidtheskipper。”Twolinesapiece，oneovereachside。Watchme。”
　　Thecodbitalmostimmediately，andfortenminutestheworkwasexcitingandlively。TheCaptain，watchingfromthecornerofhiseye，noticedthathisassistant’spipewaswheezinglessregularly，andthathislineswerethrownovermoreandmorelistlessly。Atlengthhesaid，”Haven’tstoppedsmokin’soquick，haveyou？
　　What’sthematter——goneout？Here’samatch。””IguessedI’vesmokedenoughfornow。Ican’tfishsowellwhenI’msmokin’。””Bosh！Ifyouwanttobeareelsailoryoumustsmokeallthetime。Lightup。”
　　Reluctantlytheboyobeyed，andpuffedwithfeverishenergy。Alsoheswallowedwithvigor。Thecodsmeltfishy；sodidthebait，andthecatboatrolledandrolled。SuddenlyJosiahpulledinhislines，andtookthepipefromhislips。”What’sthematter？”inquiredthewatchfulskipper。”I——IguessIwon’tfishanymore，Cap。Kindofslowsport，ain’tit？GuessI’llgointhereandtakeasnooze。””Iguessyouwon’t！Youshippedtofish，andyou’regoin’tofish。
　　Pickupthemlines。”
　　Theboysullenlyturnedtowardthecabindoor。Washe，whohadjustdeclaredhimselfindependentofschoolrestraint，hewhohadoncebeenthethorninthefleshofeverypolicemaninthe——thward，tobeorderedaboutbythisCapeCodcountryman！”Aw，gochaseyourself！”hesaidcontemptuously。Aminuteafter，whenhepickedhimselfupfromtheheapofslimyfishinthebottomoftheboat，hesawtheCaptainstandingsolidlyononecowhide-shodfoot，whiletheotherwasdrawneasilybackandrestedonitstoe。WhenJosiahrecoveredhisbreath，theburstofbadlanguagewithwhichheassailedhiscompaniondidcredittohisstreetbringingup。Itwasasshortasitwasfierce，however，andendedamidthecodandthemusselsfromtheoverturnedbaitbucket。But，astheCaptainsaidafterwards，hewas”spunky”androseagain，incoherentwithrage。”You——you——I’llkillyou！”heshrieked。”Youpromisednottotouchme，youlyin’old——”
　　Hetriedtogetoutoftheway，butdidn’tsucceed，andthistimemerelysatupandsobbedasCaptainErisaidineventones:”No，I’mnotlyin’。Ipromisednottolayahandonyouinanger，that’sall。Fustplace，Idon’tkickwithmyhands，and，secondplace，Iain’tangry。Now，then，pickupthemlines。”
　　The”ableseaman”wasfrightened。Thissortoftreatmentwasnewtohim。Hejudgeditbesttoobeynowand”getsquare”lateron。
　　Hesulkilypickedupthecodlines，andthrewthehooksoverboard。
　　CaptainEri，calmlyresuminghisfishing，wentontosay，”Thefustthingasailorhastol’arnistoobeyorders。Iseeyou’vestoppedsmokin’。Lightup。””Idon’twantto。””Well，IwantyouTO。Lightup。””Iwon’t。Oh，yes，Iwill！”
　　Heeyedthethreateningbootfearfullyandlittheawfulpipewithshakingfingers。Buthehadtakenbutafewpuffswhenitwentovertheside，anditseemedtoJosiahthatthelargerhalfofhimselfwentwithit。TheCaptainwatchedtheparoxysmgrimly。”Sick，hey？”hegrunted，”andnotacapfulofwindstirrin’。
　　You’reahealthysailor！IthoughtI’dshippedaman，butIsee’twasonlyasassybaby。MyuncleLabehadagoodcureforseasickness。Youtakeabighunkoffatsaltpork，dipitinmolasses，and——””Oh，d-o-n-’t！”Anotherspasm。”Dipitinmolasses，”repeatedCaptainEri。”Don’t，Cap！PLEASEdon’t！””Anotherthingasailorlearnsisnottocallhisskipper’Cap。’A
　　fo’masthandalwayssays’Aye，aye，sir，’whenhisoff’cerspeakstohim。Understandthat？””Y-e-s。Oh，Lord！””WHAT？””Ye——Imeanaye，aye。””Aye，aye，WHAT？””Aye，aye，SIR！OH，dearme！””That’sbetter。Nowpickupthemlines。”
　　Well，’twasadreadfulforenoonforJosiah；onenottobeforgotten。
　　Theboatrolledunceasingly，hisheadached，andpullingtheheavycodmadehisbackandshoulderslame；also，hewaswetandcold。
　　Theotherboatsscatteredaboutthefishinggroundspulleduptheiranchorsandstartedforhome，butCaptainErididnotbudge。Atnoonheopenedhislunchbasketagain，andmunchedserenely。Thesightofthegreasyhamsandwicheswastoomuchforthe”ableseaman。”Hesufferedarelapseand，whenitwasover，tumbledontheseatwhichencircledthecockpitand，beingcompletelywornout，wentfastasleep。TheCaptainwatchedhimforaminuteortwo，smiledinanotunkindlyway，and，goingintothecabin，broughtoutanoldpeajacketandsomeotherwrapswithwhichhecoveredthesleeper。Thenhewentbacktohisfishing。
　　WhenJosiahawoketheMaryEllenwasheeledoveronherside，hersailastightasadrumhead。Thewindwaswhistlingthroughthecordage，andtheboatwasracingthroughseasthatweresteel-blueandangry，withwhitecapsontheircrests。Thesunwashiddenbytumbling，dust-coloredclouds。Theboyfeltweakandstrangelyhumble；thedreadfulnauseawasgone。
　　CaptainEri，standingatthetiller，regardedhimsternly，buttherewasthesuspicionofatwinkleinhiseye。”Feelin’better？”heasked。”Ye——aye，aye，sir。””Humph！Wanttosmokeagain。Piperightthereonthethwart。””No，thankyou，sir。”
　　Itwassometimebeforeanythingmorewassaid。Josiahwasgazingattheyellowsand-cliffsthat，oneverytack，grewnearer。AtlengththeCaptainagainaddressedhim。”Perezevertellyou’boutourfustv’yage？Neverdid，hey？Well，Iwill。Himandmerunawaytoseatogether，youknow。”
　　AndthenCaptainEribeganatalethatcausedthecoldshiverstochasethemselvesfromJosiah’sbigtoetothelongesthaironhishead。ItwasthestoryoftwoboyswhoranawayandshippedaboardanAustraliansailingpacket，andcontainedmorefirst-classhorrorsthananyoneofhisbeloveddimenovels。Asafinishingtouchthenarratorturnedbackthegrizzledhaironhisforeheadandshowedathree-inchscar，souvenirofafirstmateandabelayingpin。Herolleduphisflannelshirtsleeveanddisplayedaslightlymisshapenleftarm，brokenbyakickfromadrunkencaptainandbadlysetbythesameindividual。”Now，”hesaidinconclusion，”Ical’lateyouthinkIwasprettyhardonyouthismornin’，butwhatdoyoufiggerthatyou’dhavegotifyoutalkedtoamatethewayyoudonetome？””Don’tknow。S’poseI’dhavebeenkilled，——sir。””Well，youwould，mightynigh，andthat’safact。Now，I’lltellyousomethin’else。YouwantedtoenlistintheNavy，Iunderstand。
　　Youcouldn’tgitintheNavy，anyway，you’retooyoung，buts’poseyoucould，whatthen？You’dnevergitanyhigher’napettyofficer，’causeyoudon’tknowenough。TheonlywaytogitintotheNavyistogothroughAnnapolis，andgitaneducation。Itellyou，educationcounts。MeandPerezwouldhavebeensomethin’more’ncheapfishin’andcoastin’skippersifwe’dhadaneducation；don’tforgitthat。””IguessIdon’twanttobeasailor，anyway，sir。Thisonetripisenoughforme，thankyou。””Can’thelpthat。Youshipped’longwithmefortwomonths，andyou’llsailwithmefortwomonths，everytimeIgoout。Youwon’trunawayagainneither，I’lllookoutforthat。You’llsailwithmeandyou’llhelpcleanfish，andyou’llmindmeandyou’llsay’sir。’Youneedn’tsmokeifyoudon’twantto，”withasmile。”I
　　ain’tp’tic’lar’boutthat。”Then，”wentontheCaptain，”whenthetwomonthsisupyou’llbeyourownmasteragain。Youcangobackto’Web’Saundersand’Squealer’Wixonand’Ily’Tuckerandtheirtribe，ifyouwantto，andbeatownnuisanceandagood-for-nuthin’。ORyoucandothis:
　　Youcangotoschoolforafewyearsmoreandbehaveyourselfandthen，ifI’vegotanyinfluencewiththeCongressmanfromthisdistrict——andIsortofb’lieveIhave，second-handed，atanyrate——
　　youcangotoAnnapolisandlearntobeaNavyofficer。That’smyoffer。You’vegotacoupleofmonthstothinkitoverin。”
　　Thecatboatswungaboutonherfinaltackandstoodinforthenarrows，theroutewhichtheCaptainhadspokenofasthe”shortcut。”FromwhereJosiahsatthewayseemedchokedwithlinesofroaring，frothingbreakersthatnothingcouldapproachandkeepabovewater。ButCaptainEristeeredtheMaryEllenthroughthemaseasilyasaNewYorkcabdriverguideshisvehiclethroughajamonBroadway，pickingoutthesmoothplacesandavoidingtheroughonesuntilthelastbarwascrossedandtheboatenteredtheshelteredwatersofthebay。”Bygum！”exclaimedtheenthusiastic”ableseaman。””Thatwasgreat——er——sir！””That’spartofwhatI’lll’arnyouinthenexttwomonths，”saidtheCaptain。”’Twon’tdoyouanyharmtoknowitwhenyou’reintheNavyneither。Standbytoletgoanchor！”
　　CHAPTERXV
　　INJOHNBAXTER’SROOM
　　IfJosiahexpectedanyrelaxationinCaptainEri’ssterndisciplinehewasdisappointed，forhewasheldtothestrictletterofthe”shippingarticles。”TheCaptainevenwenttothelengthoftransferringPereztotheparlorcotandofcompellingtheboytosharehisownroom。Thiswas，ofcourse，aprecautionagainstfurtherattemptsatrunningaway。Morningaftermorningthepairrosebeforedaylightandstartedforthefishinggrounds。Thereweretwoorthreeoutbreaksonthepartofthe”ableseaman，”buttheyendedinbutoneway，completesubmission。AfterawhileJosiah，beingbynomeansdull，cametorealizethatwhenhebehavedlikeamanhewastreatedlikeone。HelearnedtosteertheMaryEllen，andtohandleherinallweathers。Also，hisrespectforCaptainEridevelopedintoaliking。
　　CaptainPerezwasgratifiedanddelightedatthechangeinhisgrandnephew’sbehaviorandmanners，andwasnotalittlecurioustolearnthemethodsbywhichtheresulthadbeenbroughtabout。Hishintsbeingfruitless，hefinallyaskedhisfriendpoint-blank。
　　CaptainEri’sanswerwassomethinglikethis:”Perez，”hesaid，”doyourememberoldmanSanborn，thatkeptschoolherewhenyouandmewasboys？Well，whentheoldmanrunfoulofayoungsterthatwassassyanduppishheknockedthesassoutofhimfust，andthentalkedtohimlikeaDutchuncle。Heusedtocallthatkindoftreatment’moralsuasion。’That’swhatI’mdoin’toJosiah；I’m’moralsuasionin’him。”
　　CaptainPerezwasalittleanxiousconcerningthefirstpartofthiscourseoftraining，butitsresultsweresosatisfactorythatheaskednomorequestions。Thefactis，CaptainPerez’mindwastoomuchoccupiedwithanothersubjectjustatthistimetoallowhimtobeover-anxious。TheothersubjectwasMissPatienceDavis。
　　MissDavis，hervisitwithherbrotherbeingover，wasactingascompaniontoanoldladywholivedinalittlehouseuptheshore，amileorsoabovethestation。Thiselderlyfemale，whosenamewasMayo，hadasonwhokeptagrocerystoreinthevillageandwas，therefore，obligedtobeawayalldayanduntillateintheevening。MissPatiencefoundMrs。Mayo’scrotchetsabittrying，buttheworkwaseasyandtoherliking，andshewas，asshesaid，”rightacrosstheway，asyoumightsay，fromLuther。”The”way”
　　referredtowasthestretchofwaterbetweentheouterbeachandthemainland。
　　AndCaptainPerezwasmuchinterestedinMisspatience——verymuchso，indeed。HisfrequentvisitstotheMayohomesteadfurnishednoendofamusementtoCaptainEri，andalsotoCaptainJerry，whofoundpokingfunathisfriendanagreeablechangefromtheoldprogrammeofbeingthebutthimself。Hewasn’tentirelyfreefromthispersecution，however，forErimorethanonceaskedhim，intonesthesarcasmofwhichwaselaboratelyveiled，ifhismatch-
　　makingschemehadgottentiredandwassittingdowntorest。Towhichthesacrificewouldreplystoutly，”Oh，it’scomin’outallright；youwaitandsee。”
　　ButinhisheartCaptainJerryknewbetter。HehadbeenwiseenoughtosaynothingtohisfriendsconcerninghisinterviewswithElsieandRalph，butapparentlythebreaking-offbetweenthepairwasfinal。Hazeltinecalledoccasionally，itistrue，buthisstayswereshortand，attheslightestinclinationshownbytheolderpeopletoleavetheroom，heleftthehouse。TherewassomecommentbyEriandMrs。Snowonthissuddenchange，buttheywerefarfromsuspectingtherealreason。Elsiecontinuedtobeasreticentasshehadbeenoflate；herschoolworkwaseasiernowthatJosiahwasnolongerapupil。
　　Christmaswasratherafailure。Therewerepresents，ofcourse，buttheplannedfestivitieswereomittedowingtoachangeinJohnBaxter’scondition。Fromgrowinggraduallybetter，henowgrewslowly，butsurely，worse。Dr。Palmer’scallsweremorefrequent，andhedidnotconcealfromMrs。Snoworthecaptainshisanxiety。
　　TheyhidmuchofthisfromElsie，butshe，too，noticedthechange，andwasevidentlyworriedbyit。Strangetosay，ashisstrengthebbed，thepatient’smindgrewclearer。Hisspeech，thatinhisintervalsofconsciousnesshadheretoforedealtwitheventsofthepast，wasnowmoreconcernedwithrecenthappenings。ButCaptainErihadneverheardhimmentionthefire。
　　OneafternooninJanuaryMrs。SnowandCaptainEriweretogetherinthesickroom。Therestofthehouseholdwasabsentonvariouserrands；CaptainPerezpayingavisittothelife-saver’ssisterandElsiestayingafterschooltogooversomeexaminationpapers。
　　Therewassnowontheground，anda”Jinooarythaw”wascausingtheeavestodrip，andthepuddlesintheroadtogrowlarger。Thedoorofthebigstovewasopen，andthecoalswithinshowedred-
　　hot。CaptainBaxterwasapparentlyasleep。”Letmesee，”saidMrs。Snowmusingly，inalowtone。”I’vebeenherenow，two，three，overfourmonths。Seemslonger，somehow。””Seemsalmostasifyou’dalwaysbeenhere，”repliedCaptainEri。”Queerhowsoonwegitusedtoachange。Idon’tknowhowwegotalongafore，butwedidsomewayorother，ifyoucallitgittin’
　　along，”headdedwithashrug。”Ishouldhatetohavetotryitoveragain。””It’salwaysseemedfunnytome，”remarkedthelady，”thatyoumen，allsailorsso——andusedtodoin’foryourselves，shouldhavehadsuchatimewhenyoucometotrykeepin’house。Ishouldhaveexpecteditifyouwas——well，doctors，orsomethin’likethat——usedtohavin’folkswaitonyou，butallseacaptains，itseemsqueer。””Itdoes，don’tit？I’vethoughtofthatmyself。Anybody’dthinkwewasthemostshif’lesslotthateverlived，butwewa’n’t。EvenJerry——andhe’sthewustoneofthethreewhenitcomestoleavin’
　　thingsatlooseends——alwayshadamightyneatvessel，andhadthenameofmakin’hiscrewstoethemark。Ihonestlyb’lieveitcomeofusbein’onshoreandrunnin’theshebangonashareandsharealikeidee。Ifthere’dbeenaskipper，afellertobossthings，we’dhavedonebetter，butwhenallhandswasboss——nobodyfeltlikedoin’anything。Then，too，webeguntooold。Afellergitssortofsotinhisways，andit’shardtogiveintotheotherchap。”Now，takethatmarryin’idee，”hewenton。”Ilaughedatthatagooddealatfustanddidn’treallytakeanystockinit，butI
　　guess’twasrealhosssense，afterall。Anyhow，itbroughtyoudownhere，andwhatwe’ddonewithoutyouwhenJohnwastooksick，_I_don’tknow。Ihaven’tsaidmuchaboutit，butI’vefeltenough，andIknowtheotherfellersfeelthesameway。You’vebeensomightygoodandputupwithsomanythingsthatmusthavefrettedyoulikethenation，andthewayyou’vemanaged——my！”