e now?"

"Of course."

"It'll be pretty hard work for you alone, won't it? Especially if Emily
and John should take a notion to get married."

"Oh, well! I'm used to bein' alone. I shan't mind--much. Why! here we
are right at the foot of our path. I've been talkin' so fast I didn't
realize we'd got here already. Do you suppose it's safe to go up to the
house now, Obed?"

"I guess so. We can go in the kitchen way and I'll make noise enough
to warn all hands that we're comin'. Who's that by the back door; John,
ain't it? No, it ain't; it's Kenelm."

Kenelm and Imogene were standing at the kitchen door. When the
captain and Mrs. Barnes drew near they saw that they were in danger of
interrupting what seemed to be a serious conversation. Neither of the
parties to that conversation noticed them until they were close at hand.
Imogene had a slip of paper in her hand.

Captain Obed, whose mind was occupied with but one thought just then,
asked a question.

"Imogene," he asked in a loud whisper, "where's Miss Emily?"

Imogene started and turned. Kenelm also started. He looked embarrassed.

"Eh!" cried Imogene. "Oh, it's you, Mrs. Thankful. I was wonderin'
where you was. I've been havin' a little talk with Kenelm here. It's all
right, Mrs. Thankful."

"What's all right?" asked Thankful.

"About your brother workin' here in Kenelm's place. He don't mind. You
don't, do you, Kenelm?"

Mr. Parker, who had been standing upon one foot and pawing like a
restless horse with the other, shifted his position.

"No-o," he drawled. "I--I don't know's I do."

Thankful was disturbed. "I'm sorry you said anything yet awhile,
Imogene," she said. "My plans about Jedediah are hardly made yet. I do
hate to make you lose your place, Kenelm. If I could see my way clear to
keepin' two men I'd do it, but I declare I can't see it."

"That's all right, ma'am," said Kenelm. "I ain't partic'lar."

"He don't mind a bit, Mrs. Thankful," put in Imogene. "Honest, he don't.
He don't have to work unless he's obliged to--not much anyhow. Kenelm's
got money, you know."

"I know; at least I've heard he had some money. But 'tain't because he
needs the money that I feel bad; it's because of his engagement to you,
Imogene. I suppose you're plannin' to be married some time or other
and--"

"Oh, that's all right, too," interrupted Imogene eagerly. "You needn't
worry about our engagement. She needn't worry about that, need she,
Kenelm?"

"No," sai