l safe picked an' gathered, sir!" And Adam strode off with his eye
still turned heaven-ward, and shaking his head like some great bird
of ill-omen.

So the afternoon wore away to evening, and with evening, came Anthea;
but a very grave-eyed, troubled Anthea, who sat at the tea-table silent,
and preoccupied,--in so much, that Small Porges openly wondered, while
Miss Priscilla watched over her, wistful, and tender.

Thus, Tea, which was wont to be the merriest meal of the day, was but
the pale ghost of what it should have been, despite Small Porges' flow
of conversation, (when not impeded by bread and jam), and Bellew's
tactful efforts. Now while he talked light-heartedly, keeping carefully
to generalities, he noticed two things,--one was that Anthea made but a
pretence at eating, and the second, that though she uttered a word, now
and then, yet her eyes persistently avoided his.

Thus, he, for one, was relieved when tea was over, and, as he rose from
the table, he determined, despite the unpropitious look of things, to
end the suspense, one way or another, and speak to Anthea just so soon
as she should be alone.

But here again he was balked and disappointed, for when Small Porges
came to bid him good-night as usual, he learned that "Auntie Anthea" had
already gone to bed.

"She says it's a head-ache," said Small Porges, "but I 'specks it's the
hops, really, you know."

"The hops, my Porges?"

"She's worrying about them,--she's 'fraid of a storm, like Adam is. An'
when she worries,--I worry. Oh Uncle Porges!--if only my prayers can
bring the Money Moon--soon, you know,--very soon! If they don't bring it
in a day or two,--'fraid I shall wake up, one fine morning, an' find
I've worried, an' worried myself into an old man."

"Never fear, Shipmate!" said Bellew in his most nautical manner, "'all's
well that ends well,'--a-low, and aloft all's a-taunto. So just take a
turn at the lee braces, and keep your weather eye lifting, for you may
be sure of this,--if the storm does come,--it will bring the Money
Moon with it."

Then, having bidden Small Porges a cheery "Good-night"--Bellew went out
to walk among the roses. And, as he walked, he watched the flying wrack
of clouds above his head, and listened to the wind that moaned in fitful
gusts. Wherefore, having learned in his many travels to read, and
interpret such natural signs and omens, he shook his head, and muttered
to himself--even as Adam had done before him.