She felt sorry for him, so acting upon the impulse of the
instant, she crossed the room and held out her hand.

"I am very glad to meet you, Captain," she began, "You have a boat of
your very own, so I understand. You will take me for a trip on the
river some day, will you not? I have always longed for a sail in a
wood-boat."

"Sure, sure, Miss, I'll take ye," the captain replied, much delighted
at her action. "But mebbe ye'd better ask me wife. She's mighty
pertic'ler who I take sailin', 'specially when it comes to women."

"Oh, I am sure Mrs. Tobin won't mind," Jess assured. "She's too
sensible, I know. And, besides, I'm quite young."

A grim smile overspread Mrs. Tobin's face as she listened to this
conversation. She was pleased with the girl, and anxious to learn more
about her.

"I don't mind Sam'l taking you on the boat," she said, "and if you live
along the river you can go with him as well as not. But I never heard
of the Bean family before. I know about most of the people from St.
John to Fredericton."

"Miss Bean's home is in the city," John explained. "She was visiting
some friends at the quarry, and was hit on the head by a stone. I
happened to be there at the time, and so brought her home with me last
night. You heard about that other accident there, I suppose?"

"No; what accident?"

"A truck load of stone with two men on board struck a cow, which was
standing on the track. The cow was killed, and one of the men was
badly hurt."

"My, oh, my!" Mrs. Tobin exclaimed. "I never heard the like of such
things as are taking place these days. With that poor girl drowned at
Benton's wharf, another injured at the quarry, a cow killed, and a man
hurt. The world must surely be coming to an end, for the Bible says
there will be terrible things happening in the last days."

"Oh, I guess the world will wag along for some time yet," John
laughingly replied. "Wouldn't you like to hear some music, Mrs. Tobin?"

They were all seated now, the captain as near the door as possible,
that he might beat a hasty retreat should the situation become too
embarrassing. He breathed more freely when music was mentioned.

"Let's have something lively, John," he suggested. "I haven't heard a
real break-down fer a long time. Give us 'We won't go home 'til
mornin',' or something like that."

"Sam'l, Sam'l," his wife protested. "I'm surprised at you. With so
many terrible things happening around us, we s