Gardiner very cheerfully complied, not observing the look of
dissatisfaction with which his owner listened to the request. Away the two
went, then, and were soon at the widow's door. Here the young man left his
companion, having duty to attend to on board the Sea Lion. The Widow White
received her guest with lively interest, it forming one of the greatest
pleasures of her existence to be imparting and receiving intelligence.

"I dare say you found my uncle a companionable man," observed the captain,
as soon as amicable relations were established between the parties, by
means of a few flattering remarks on one side and on the other. "The
Vineyard folks are generally quite conversable."

"That he was, captain Daggett; and when the deacon had not been over to
perplex him, and wake up the worldly spirit in him, he was as well
inclined to preparation as any sick person I ever waited on. To be sure
it _was_ different arter the deacon had paid one of his visits."

"Was Deacon Pratt in the habit of coming to read and pray with the sick?"

"He pray! I don't believe he as much as went through a single sentence of
a prayer in all his visits. Their whull talk was about islands and seals,
when they was by themselves."

"Indeed!" exclaimed the nephew, manifesting a new interest in the
discourse. "And what could they find to say on such subjects? Islands and
seals were a strange topic for a dying man!"

"I know it"--answered the widow, sharply. "I know'd it at the time; but
what could a lone woman do to set 'em right; and he a deacon of the
meetin' the whull time? If they _would_ talk of worldly things at such
times, it wasn't for one like me to put 'em right."

"Then this discourse was held openly in your presence--before your face,
as it might be, ma'am?"

"I can't say that it was just that; nor was it altogether when my back was
turned. They talked, and I overheard what was said, as will happen when a
body is about, you know."

The stranger did not press the point, having been brought up in what might
almost be termed a land of listeners. An island, that is cut off from much
communication with the rest of the earth, and from which two-thirds of the
males must be periodically absent, would be very likely to reach
perfection in the art of gossiping, which includes that of the listener.

"Yes," he answered, "one picks up a good deal, he doesn't know how. So
they talked of islands and seals?"

Thus questioned, the widow che