h, even a lemon one. Well, you've all heard
the toast. Full glasses, now. Here's TO you, Bos'n! Drink hearty, all
hands, and give the ship a good name."

If the heartiness with which they drank is a criterion, the good name
of the ship was established. Then the assembly adjourned to the sitting
room and--yes, even the front parlor. Not since the days when that
sacred apartment had been desecrated by the irreverent city boarders,
during the Howes regime, had its walls echoed to such whoops and shouts
of laughter. The children played "Post Office" and "Copenhagen" and
"Clap in, Clap out," while the grown folks looked on.

"Ain't they havin' a fine time, Cap?" gushed Miss Phinney. "Don't it
make you wish you was young again?"

"Angie," replied Captain Cy solemnly, "don't tempt me; don't! If they
keep on playin' that Copenhagen and you stand right alongside of me,
there's no tellin' what 'll happen."

Angeline declared that he was "turrible," but she faced the threatened
danger nevertheless, and bravely remained where she was.

Mr. Atkins went home early in the evening, taking Alicia with him. He
explained that his long railroad journey had--er--somewhat fatigued
him and, though he hated to leave such a--er--delightful gathering,
he really felt that, under the circumstances, his departure would be
forgiven. Captain Cy opened the door for him and stood watching as,
holding his daughter by the hand, he marched majestically down the path.

"Hum!" mused the captain aloud. "I guess he has been travelin' nights.
Thought he ought to be here quick, I shouldn't wonder. He does look
tired, that's a fact, and kind of pale, seemed to me."

"Well, there, now!" exclaimed Mrs. Tripp, who was looking over his
shoulder. "Did you see that?"

"No; what was it?"

"Why, when he went to open his gate, one of them arbor vity bushes he
set out this spring knocked his hat off. And he never seemed to notice,
but went right on. If 'Licia hadn't picked it up, that nice new hat
would have been layin' there yet. That's the most undignified thing ever
I see Heman Atkins do. He MUST be tired out, poor man!"

CHAPTER X

A LETTER AND A VISITOR

"Whit," asked Asaph next day, "wan't you surprised to see Heman last
night?"

Captain Cy nodded. He was once more busy with the doll house, the
construction of which had progressed slowly of late, owing to the
demands which the party and politics made upon its builder's time.

"Yup," he said,