ggy Lacey jus' pos'tively would not do no such
thing.

Skipper John found his head convenient to assist the expression of his
emotion. He scratched it.

"Well, I'm bewildered," said he, "an' I'm not able t' help you at all
no more."

"I'll have nobody's help," Peggy Lacey retorted.

"Why not, Peggy?"

"I've my pride t' serve."

"My dear," said Skipper John gravely, "you've also your happiness t'
gain."

"I'll gain it alone."

"Aw, now, Peggy," Skipper John coaxed, with a forefinger under Peggy's
little chin, "you'd take my help in this an' in all things, wouldn't
ye? You is jus' so used t' my help, maid," he added, "that you'd be
wonderful lonesome without it."

That was true.

"In most things, Father John," Peggy replied, "I'd take your help an'
be glad. Whatever an' all about that, I'll have nobody's help in the
world t' win the mastery o' Dickie Blue. Mark that, now! I means it."

"I've showed you the way t' win it."

"Tis dishonest."

"Ay, but----"

"'Tis shameful."

"Still an' all----"

"I'll not do it."

Again Skipper John scratched his head. "'Tis an old sayin'," he
protested, "that all's fair in love an' war."

"'Tis a false sayin'," Peggy declared. "Moreover," she argued, "an I
took your advice, an' done the schemin' wickedness that you said,
'twould never win Dickie Blue."

"Jus' you try it, maid!"

"I scorn t' try it! I'll practice no wiles whatsoever t' win the likes
o' Dickie Blue. An' what would I say when he discovered the deception
thereafter?"

"He'd never find out at all."

"Sure, he've eyes t' see with, haven't he?"

"Ay, but he's too stupid t' notice. An' once you're wed----"

"No, no! 'Tis a thing too awful t' plot."

"An you cared enough for the lad," said Skipper John, "you'd stop at
nothin' at all."

Peggy's great eyes clouded with tears.

"I cares more for he," said she, "than he cares for me. My heart's
jus' sore with grief."

"Ah, no, now!"

"Ay, 'tis!" Peggy sobbed. She put her dark hair against Skipper John's
shoulder then. "I'm jus' sick with the need of un!" she said.

* * * * *

Summer went her indifferent way, and Winter blustered into the past,
too, without serving the emotions of Scalawag Run; and a new Spring
was imminent--warm winds blowing out of the south, the ice breaking
from the cliffs and drifting out to sea and back again. Still pretty
Peggy Lacey was obdurately fixed in her attitude toward the sly
s