ast night I'd have stopped you, but you was gone afore I missed it."

"But--but, consarn it all, Hannah--"

"Don't swear, Kenelm. Profanity won't help you none."

"I wa'n't swearin'. All I say is what's the use of an umbrella if you
can't hist it in a storm? I wouldn't give a darn for a schooner load of
'em when 'twas fair weather. I--I cal'late I--I left it somewheres."

"I cal'late you did. I'm goin' over to the village this mornin' and I'll
stop in at that clubhouse, myself."

"I--I don't believe it's at the clubhouse, Hannah."

"You don't? Why don't you?"

"I--I don't know. I just guess it ain't, that's all. Somethin' seems to
tell me 'tain't."

"Oh, it does, hey? I want to know! Hum! Was you anywheres else last
night? Answer me the truth now, Kenelm Parker. Was you anywheres else
last night?"

"Anywheres else. What do you mean by that?"

"I mean what I say. You know what I mean well enough. Was you--well, was
you callin' on anybody?"

"Callin' on anybody? CALLIN' on 'em?"

"Yes, callin' on 'em. Oh, you needn't look so innocent and buttery!
You ain't above it. Ain't I had experience? Haven't I been through it?
Didn't you use to say that I, your sister that's been a mother to you,
was the only woman in this world for you, and then, the minute I was out
of sight and hardly out of hearin', you--"

"My soul! You've got Abbie Larkin in your head again, ain't you?
It--it--I swear it's a reg'lar disease with you, seems so. Ain't I told
you I ain't seen Abbie Larkin, nor her me, for the land knows how long?
And I don't want to see her. My time! Do you suppose I waded and paddled
a mile and a quarter down to call on Abbie Larkin a night like last
night? What do you think I am--a bull frog? I wouldn't do it to see
the--the Queen of Rooshy."

This vehement outburst seemed to have some effect. Miss Parker's tone
was more conciliatory.

"Well, all right," she said. "I s'pose likely you didn't call on her, if
you say so, Kenelm. I suppose I am a foolish, lone woman. But, O Kenelm,
I do think such a sight of you. And you know you've got money and that
Abbie Larkin is so worldly she'd marry you for it in a minute. I didn't
know but you might have met her."

"Met her! Tut--tut--tut! If that ain't--and in a typhoon like last
night! Oh, sartin, I met her! I was up here on top of Meetin'-house
Hill, larnin' her to swim in the mud puddles. You do talk so silly
sometimes, Hannah."

"Maybe I do," with a sniff. "Maybe