He's hungry, too, and he knows what he'll get, same as I do."

They drove into the yard of Mrs. Barnes' "property" and Thankful
herself met them at the door. Captain Obed introduced his passenger and
announced that the latter gentleman and he would dine there. The lady
seemed glad to hear this, but she seemed troubled, too. When she and the
captain were alone together she disclosed the cause of her trouble.

"I'm afraid I'm goin' to lose my best boarder," she said. "Mr. Daniels
says he's afraid he must take his meals nearer his place of business.
And, if he does that, he'll get a room somewheres uptown. I'm awful
sorry. He's about the highest payin' roomer I have and I did think he
was permanent. Oh, dear!" she added. "It does seem as if there was just
one thing after the other to worry me. I--I don't seem to be makin' both
ends meet the way I hoped. And--and lookin' out for everything myself,
the way I have to do, keeps me stirred up all the time. I feel almost
sort of discouraged. I know I shouldn't, so soon, of course. It's--it's
because I'm tired today, I guess likely."

"Yes, I guess likely 'tis. Tired! I shouldn't wonder? It ain't any of my
affairs at all, Mrs. Barnes, and I beg your pardon for sayin' it, but
if you don't have some good capable person to take some of the care and
managin' of this place off your shoulders you'll be down sick afore the
summer's through."

Thankful sighed, and then smiled. "I know I need help, the right kind of
help, just as well as you do, Cap'n Bangs," she said. "But I know,
too, that I can't afford to pay for it, so I must get along best I can
without it. As for gettin' sick--well, I can't afford that, either."

At dinner John Kendrick met Mr. Heman Daniels and Miss Timpson and Caleb
Hammond. All three were evidently very curious concerning the business
which had brought the young man to East Wellmouth, but their curiosity
was not satisfied. Kendrick himself refused to notice hints and
insinuations and, though he talked freely on most subjects, would not
talk of his own affairs. Captain Obed, of course, disclosed nothing of
the knowledge he had gained. So the table talk dealt mainly with the
changes in the village since John was a boy there, and of old times and
old residents long gone.

Mr. Daniels was very gracious and very affable. He spoke largely of
cases intrusted to his care, of responsibilities and trusts, and if the
guest gained the idea that Mr. Daniels was a very c