ead vines over the porch, and the dry stalks of last year's flowers in
the yard, her heart sank. With the wind blowing and the bare branches
of the old apple tree scraping the roof and whining dolefully, it looked
bleak and forsaken. It was so different, so unhomelike, and so, to her
eyes, small and poverty-stricken. She made believe that she liked it,
exclaimed over the view--which, on the particular day, was desolate
enough--and declared the Dutch front door was "old-fashioned and dear."
But Captain Elisha, watching her closely, knew that she was only waiting
to be alone to give way to wretchedness and tears. He understood,
had expected that she would feel thus, but he was disappointed,
nevertheless. However, after the front door was passed and they were
inside the house, Caroline looked about her in delighted amazement. The
living room was small, but bright and warm and cheery. On its walls,
hiding the rather vivid paper, were hung some of the best of Rodgers
Warren's pictures--the Corot, the codfisher, and others. The furniture
and rugs were those which had been in the library of the apartment,
those she had been familiar with all her life. The books, many of them,
were there, also. And the dining room, except for size, looked like
home. So did the bedrooms; and, in the kitchen, Annie grinned a welcome.

"But how could you?" asked Caroline. "How could you keep all these
things, Uncle Elisha? I thought, of course, they must all be sold. I
cried when they took them away that day when we were leaving to go to
the hotel. I was sure I should never see them again. And here they all
are! How could you do it?"

The captain's grin was as wide as Annie's. "Oh," he explained, "I
couldn't let 'em all go. Never intended to. That five thousand dollar
codder up there seemed like own folks, pretty nigh. I'd have kept
_him_, if we had to live in one room and a trunk. And we ain't got to
that--yet. I tell you, dearie, I thought they'd make you feel more to
home. And they do, don't they?"

The look she gave him was answer sufficient.

"But the creditors?" she asked. "That man who--they belong to him, don't
they? I supposed of course they must go with the rest."

Captain Elisha winked. "There's times," he answered, "when I believe in
cheatin' my creditors. This is one of 'em. Never you mind that feller
you mentioned. He's got enough, confound him! He didn't have the face to
ask for any more. Sylvester looked out for that. Five hund