say whether he's goin' to leave or not."

"But he does say it. That is, he--"

"He just says he 'cal'lates.' He never said he was GOIN' to do anything;
not for years, anyhow. It's all right, Mrs. Thankful. You just wait and
see. If worst comes to worst I've got a--"

She stopped short. "What have you got, Imogene?" asked Mrs. Barnes.

"Oh, nothin', ma'am. Only you just wait."

So Thankful waited and Kenelm, perfectly aware of the situation, and
backed by the counsel of his sister, became daily more independent.
He did only such work as he cared to do and his hours for arriving and
departing were irregular, to say the least.

On the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday of August the Ostable County
Cattle Show and Fair was to be held at the county seat. The annual
Cattle Show is a big event on the Cape and practically all of East
Wellmouth was planning to attend. Most of the High Cliff boarders were
going to the Fair and, Friday being the big day, they were going
on Friday. Imogene asked for a holiday on that day. The request was
granted. Then Kenelm announced that he and Hannah were cal'latin' to
go. Thankful was somewhat reluctant; she felt that to be deprived of
the services of both her hired man and maid on the same day might be
troublesome. But as the Parker announcement was more in the nature of an
ultimatum than a request, she said yes under protest. But when Captain
Obed appeared and invited her and John Kendrick and Emily Howes to go to
the Fair with him in a hired motor car she was more troubled than ever.

"I'd like to go, Cap'n," she said. "Oh, I WOULD like to go! I haven't
had a day off since this place opened and I never rode in an automobile
more'n three times in my life. But I can't do it. You and Emily and John
can, of course, and you must; but I've got to stay here. Some of the
boarders will be here for their meals and I can't leave the house
alone."

Captain Obed uttered a dismayed protest.

"Sho!" he exclaimed. "Sho! That's too bad. Why, I counted more on your
goin' than--Humph! You've just got to go, that's all. Can't Imogene look
after the house?"

"She could if she was goin' to be here, but she's goin' to the Fair
herself. I promised her she could and I must keep my promise."

"Yes, yes; I presume likely you must. But now, Mrs. Thankful--"

"I'm afraid there can't be any 'but,' Cap'n. You and Mr. Kendrick and
Emily go and I'll get my fun thinkin' what a good time you'll have."

She was