to-morrow. If so, I will call after school and tell you."

"Yes, do," urged the captain eagerly. "You'll find me here waitin'. Good
news or not, do come. I--I ain't said all I wanted to, myself."

He returned to the sitting room. The town clerk was standing by the
stove. He looked troubled.

"What's the row, Ase?" asked Cy cheerily. He was overflowing with good
nature.

"Oh, nothin' special," replied Mr. Tidditt. "You look joyful enough for
two of us. Had good company, ain't you?"

"Why, yes; 'bout as good as there is. What makes you look so glum?"

Asaph hesitated.

"Phoebe was here yesterday, too, wan't she?" he asked.

"Yup. What of it?"

"And the day afore that?"

"No, not for three days afore that. But what OF it, I ask you?"

"Well, now, Cy, you mustn't get mad. I'm a friend of yours, and friends
ought to be able to say 'most anything to each other. If--if I was you,
I wouldn't let Phoebe come so often--not here, you know, at your house.
Course, I know she comes with Bos'n and all, but--"

"Out with it!" The captain's tone was ominous. "What are you drivin'
at?"

The caller fidgeted.

"Well, Whit," he stammered, "there's consider'ble talkin' goin' on,
that's all."

"Talkin'? What kind of talkin'?"

"Well, you know the kind. This town does a good deal of it, 'specially
after church and prayer meetin'. Seem's if they thought 'twas a sort of
proper place. _I_ don't myself; I kind of like to keep my charity and
brotherly love spread out through the week, but--"

"Ase, are the folks in this town sayin' a word against Phoebe Dawes
because she comes here to see--Bos'n?"

"Don't--don't get mad, Whit. Don't look at me like that. _I_ ain't said
nothin'. Why, a spell ago, at the boardin' house, I--"

He told of the meal at the perfect boarding house where Miss Dawes
championed his friend's cause. Also of the conversation which followed,
and his own part in it. Captain Cy paced the floor.

"I wouldn't have her come so often, Cy," pleaded Asaph. "Honest, I
wouldn't. Course, you and me know they're mean, miser'ble liars, but
it's her I'm thinkin' of. She's a young woman and single. And you're
a good many years older'n she is. And so, of course, you and she ain't
ever goin' to get married. And have you thought what effect it might
have on her keepin' her teacher's place? The committee's a majority
against her as 'tis. And--you know _I_ don't think so, but a good many
folks do--you ain't got the best na