ere to help us. She'd be
just as liable to do it as not."

"You're right, she would. Good thing she thinks she's got money of her
own and that that money is payin' her schoolin' bills. She'd be frettin'
all the time about the expense if 'twa'n't for that. You and I must
pretend everything's lovely and the goose hangin' high when she's
around. And we mustn't let Isaiah drop any hints."

"No. Isaiah has asked me two or three times lately if the new stores
was hurtin' our trade. I shouldn't wonder if he had some suspicions down
inside him."

"Umph! Well, that's all right, so long as they stay inside. If I see
signs of one of those suspicions risin' above his Adam's apple I'll
choke 'em down again. I'll put a flea in Isaiah's ear, and I'll put
mucilage on its feet so's 'twill stick there."

So although Mary did notice that the two new shops in the village seemed
to be prospering and that business at Hamilton and Company's was
not rushing even for September, the answers to her questions were so
reassuring that her uneasiness was driven away. Her Uncle Zoeth evaded
direct reply and Captain Shadrach prevaricated whole-heartedly and
cheerfully. Even Isaiah declared that "everything and all hands was
doin' fine." But Mary made him promise that should it ever be otherwise
than fine he would write her immediately. He gave the promise with some
reluctance.

"I cal'late if Cap'n Shad caught me tellin' tales out of school he'd go
to work and turn to and bust me over the head with a marlinespike," said
Mr. Chase, with the air of one stating a fact.

Mary laughed. "Oh, no, he wouldn't," she declared. "I'll stand back of
you, Isaiah. Now mind, you are to keep me posted on JUST how things are
here."

CHAPTER XVI

Mary went back to Boston and to school, where old acquaintances were
renewed and new ones made. The Misses Cabot welcomed her with fussy and
dignified condescension. Barbara Howe hugged and kissed her and vowed
she had not seen a girl all summer who was half so sweet.

"Why in the world someone doesn't run off with you and marry you this
very minute I cannot see," declared the vivacious young lady. "If I were
a man I should."

Mary, who was used to Miss Howe's outbursts, merely smiled.

"Oh, no, you wouldn't," she replied. "I should hope you would be more
sensible. No one will run off with me; at least I wouldn't run off with
them."

"Why not? Don't you think an elopement is perfectly splendid--so
romant